and his expression of habitual gloom upon his countenance, sat Mouldy
Jakes. His left sleeve hung empty at his side, and from the breast of
a conspicuously new-looking monkey-jacket protruded a splint swathed
about in bandages. A newly-healed scar showed pink across his scalp.

A laughing semi-circle sat round apparently in the enjoyment of some
anecdote just concluded. A Submarine Commander of almost legendary
fame stood by the fender examining something in a little morocco case.
Mouldy Jakes turned a melancholy eye upon the newcomers.

"More of 'em," he said in tones of dull despair. "What d'you
want--Martini or Manhattan?"

"Martini," replied the Young Doctor, advancing, "both of us; but why
this reckless hospitality, Mouldy? Are you celebrating an escape from
the nursing home?"

The Submarine man closed the case with a little snap and handed it back
to Mouldy Jakes.

"We're just celebrating Mouldy's acquisition of that bauble," he
explained. "He's been having the time of his life at Buckingham Palace
all the morning."

"Not 'arf," confirmed the hero modestly. "Proper day-off, I've been
having!" He raised his voice. "Two more Martinis an' another plain
soda, please, Bobby."

The First Lieutenant laughed.

"Who's the soda water for--me?"

Mouldy shook his head lugubriously.

"No," he replied, "me. There was another bird there this morning being
lushed up to a bar to his D.S.O.--an R.N.R. Lieutenant called Gedge.
What you'd call a broth of a boy. We had lunch together afterwards."
The speaker sighed heavily and passed his hand across his forehead. "I
think we must have had tea too," he added meditatively.

The Young Doctor looked round the laughing circle of faces. "Where is
he? Did you bring him along with you?"

Mouldy Jakes shook his head and reached out for his soda water. "No
... he went to sleep...."

The Young Doctor sat down on the fender beside the speaker. "How's the
hand getting on, old lad?"

"Nicely, what's left of it. They let me out without a keeper now. Had
a good leave? When d'you go back?"

"To-morrow," replied the First Lieutenant with a sigh. "Buck up and
get well again, Mouldy, and come back to us. We're all going North
to-morrow night, Gerrard and Tweedledum, and Pills here ... and all the
rest of 'em. You'd better join up with the party!" He spoke in gently
chaffing, affectionate tones. "I don't think we can spare you, old
Sunny Jim."

"No," said Moul