The two men whom he had followed into the room stood silent among the shadows.

The gloom was such as could be felt.
Suddenly, in short, painful tones the Brigadier began to speak.
"Sit down," he said.

"I have sent for you to ask one among you to undertake for me a certain service which must be accomplished, but which I--" he paused and again audibly caught his breath between his teeth--"which I--am unable to execute for myself." An instant's silence followed the halting speech.

Then the young officer who stood against the door stepped briskly forward.
"What's the job, sir?
I'll wager my evening skilly I carry it through." One of the men in the shadows moved, and spoke in a repressive tone.
"Shut up, Nick! This is no mess-room joke." Nick made a sharp, half-contemptuous gesture.

"A joke only ceases to be a joke when there is no one left to laugh, sir," he said.