That's my answer." There followed quite a long pause.

Perhaps Brigadier-General Jenkins was wondering what chance he would stand in a show-down.
Whoever had heard the mess and canteen gossip knew that Jenkins' career had been one long string of miracles by which he had attained promotion without in any way deserving it, and a parallel series of even greater ones by which he had saved himself from ruin by contriving to blame some one else.
"You want me to white-wash Catesby ?" he said at last.

"If you pounce quickly on the TNT, no one need know it was lost." "If you court-martial Catesby, the public shall know who lost it, and who didn't, even if it costs me my commission!" "Blast you! Insubordination!" "Is your car outside ?" Grim answered.

"Why don't you drive me up to the Administrator and charge me with it ?" "Don't be an idiot! I came to you to avoid a scandal.

If this news gets out there'll be a panic.