until he found a solution where nine-tenths of humanity finds it, in a compromise. He could not quarrel with Cordy. That would be absurd; besides, the old fellow was really such awfully good company. And he could not tell him that his way of looking at life was not elevating. Cordy had seen much more of life than Slicker, and he would think Slicker a fool. No; he could not behave differently to Cordy, but he would not let what Cordy said hurt him. "A fellow can laugh at a joke without approving of it," he told himself.
But when Tempest came Slicker was taken unawares For Cordy groaned.
"Don't you think it's likely to be—well—to be a little dull to-night?" he asked. "I wouldn't say anything against the Inspector, of course. But he will inspect more than our kits and our teeth, won't he? Have you got your soul cleaned up, Slicker?"
"Tempest doesn't preach," said Slicker, but he reddened.
"Oh, my dear boy, no. He's a gentleman, of course. But can't you just see how Tempest, the immaculate, will look on us, the erring ones. He won't say anything, of course; but he'll purse his mouth up and shake his head inside himself at our card-playing. I'm going to take the very shirt off you to-night, Slicker. But I'll let you have it back to-morrow. As philosophers, you know, we are bound to meet circumstances as cheerfully as we can."
"Tempest plays cards himself," said Slicker.
"Cribbage," suggested Cordy. "Or is it patience, Slicker?"
Slicker laughed with him, although he felt the treachery to Tempest. But he went away thinking that perhaps Tempest was a little—well, not exactly the sort of fellow one would set out to have a jolly time with. And Cordy was.
But Cordy had made a miscalculation when he asserted that Tempest would not say anything. Acting on this belief he forced animal spirits to take the place of the drink which was debarred at the detachment, and in a little while he heard Tempest come down the passage which separated the mess-room from Hooper's quarters. Tempest
