*    *    *    *    *

All through the voyage he remained moody and distrait; and at the ship's concert, at which
he was forced to take the chair, he was heard to observe to the purser that if the alleged
soprano who had just sung "My Little Grey Home in the West" had the immortal gall to take
a second encore he hoped that she would trip over a high note and dislocate her neck.

*    *    *    *    *

He radiated port and pop-eyed dignity. He had splay feet and three chins, and when he walked
his curving waistcoat preceded him like the advance guard of some royal procession.

*    *    *    *    *

Bradbury Fisher shuddered from head to foot, and his legs wobbled like asparagus stalks.

*    *    *    *    *

Although there are, of course, endless sub-species in their ranks, not all of which have yet
been classified by science, twenty-four handicap golfers may be stated broadly to fall into two
classes, the dashing and the cautious - those, that is to say, who endeavour to do every hole
in a brilliant one and those who are content to win with a steady nine. Gladstone Bott was one
of the cautious brigade. He fussed about for a few moments like a hen scratching gravel, then
with a stiff quarter swing sent his ball straight down the fairway for a matter of seventy yards.

*    *    *    *    *

He straightened out the kinks in his spine with a grim smile.

*    *    *    *    *

Leaving Gladstone Bott to continue his imitation of a spavined octogenarian rolling peanuts with
a toothpick, Bradbury Fisher, followed by his caddie, set out on the long trail into the jungle.

*    *    *    *    *

His pendulous cheeks, his curving waistcoat, his protruding eyes, and the sequence of rolling chins
combined to produce in Bradbury that instinctive feeling of being in the presence of a superior
which we experience when meeting scratch golfers, headwaiters of fashionable restaurants, and
traffic policemen.

*    *    *    *    *

"You should see how the butler Vosper stood behind the Duke's chair. Like a high priest presiding
over some mystic religious ceremony. And his voice when he asks you if you will have sherry or hock!
Like the music of some wonderful organ. I couldn't resist him."

*    *    *    *    *