Читать книгу Unconditional Surrender онлайн

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"Tea," he said, handing her a little parcel, "Lapsang Suchong--half a pound of it. Bartered in what strange Eastern markets, I know not. But the genuine article. I have a friend at our headquarters who gets me some from time to time. We must go easy with it, Mrs. Embury, but I think we might 'brew up' for the Major."

They went upstairs and sat in the drawing-room.

"No doubt you want to hear my opinion of your Pensées."

"I want to hear Everard Spruce's."

"Yes, of course, I deserved that little snub. Well, prepare yourself for good news--Everard is delighted with them and wants to publish them in Survival. He is quite content to leave them anonymous. The only thing he doesn't quite like is the title."

"Pensées," said Ludovic. "D'you know what they call our badge?" He tapped the floral device on the lapel of his tunic. "'A pansy sitting on its laurels.'"

"Yes, yes. Very good. I have heard the witticism before. No; Jack thinks it dated. He suggests 'Notes in Transit' or something of the sort."