"But the people hereabouts are so ignorant, you can make them believe anything." Marigold was a man of Kent and had a poor opinion of those born and bred in other counties.
"I met Gedge this morning," he continued, and thereupon gave me the substance of the conversation.

I hardly think the adjectives of the report were those that were really used.
"So your precious Colonel has got the V.C.," sneered Gedge.
"He has," said Marigold.

"And it's too great an honour for your inconsiderable town." "If this inconsiderable town knew as much about him as I do, it would give him the order of the precious boot." "And what do you know ?" asked Marigold.
"That's what all you downtrodden slaves of militarism would like to find out," replied Gedge.

"The time will come when I, and such as I, will tear the veils away and expose them, and say 'These be thy gods, O Israel.'" "The time will come," retorted Marigold, "when if you don't hold your precious jaw, I and such as I will smash it into a thousand pieces.

For twopence I'd knock your ugly head off this present minute." Whereupon Gedge apparently wilted before the indignant eye of Sergeant Marigold and faded away down the High Street.
All this in itself seemed very trivial, but for the past year the attitude of Gedge had been mysterious.