"Sir?"

 

"The facts of life, Stevens. Birds, bees. You are familiar, aren't you?"

 

"I'm afraid I don't quite follow you, sir."

 

"Let me put my cards on the table, Stevens.

 

Sir David is a very old friend. And he's been invaluable in organizing the

present conference. Without him, I dare say, we'd not have secured M. Dupont's

agreement to come."

 

"Indeed, sir."

 

"However, Stevens, Sir David has his funny side. You may have noticed it

yourself. He's brought his son, Reginald, with him. To act as secretary. The

point is, he's engaged to be married. Young Reginald, I mean."

 

"Yes, sir."

 

"Sir David has been attempting to tell his son the facts of life for the last

five years.

 

The young man is now twenty-three."