Chapter 21

While General Diamond hastily swallowed a couple of cocktails and was introduced all round, Fin had a good opportunity to size him up. As befitted his present character the General was now cultivating a rough and ready style; baggy tweed suit, thick-soled shoes and immense fawn-coloured wideawake that he tossed aside with a flowing gesture. The spiked moustache and the monocle had disappeared; in his cheeks a hardy tan replaced the purple flush of high living; but the hard, protruberant blue eyes were unchanged. Wh…