Will you accept this ?--I wish I could make it more," and he presented him with ten shillings.
The Sergeant drew himself up and saluted.
"Thank you kindly, Major," he said.

"I'd rather take that from you than L10 from the other gentlemen.

But, Major, I wish we were out on the West Coast again together.

It's a stinking, barbarous hole, but not so bad as this 'ere city." For once these two had served as comrades, and it was through Alan that the sergeant obtained his present lucrative but somewhat uncongenial post.
He was outside at last.

The massive granite portal vanished behind him in the evening mists, much as a nightmare vanishes.