[Illustration: A LEVY ON PATRIOTISM.] "'E might as well shut up shop right away," agreed Chris. "Jest so. _Reginald_ rushes after _Blaney_ and tells him off good an' proper----" "'Ow could 'e when 'e'd lorst his voice?" asked Chris. "Oh! burn it. This is a fillum drama. 'E sees 'is extensive _clientele_ drifting away to the Vache Noire an' _Blaney_ getting so rich 'e can afford Beaune an' eggs an' chips for 'is supper every night. In the interests of the misguided victims _Reginald_ tells the Military Police that drinking goes on during prohibited hours at the Vache Noire, an' gets the place put out of bounds. All the speckerlaters thereupon return to the Avenir, an' Part II. finishes with _Reginald_ recovering 'is voice an' carolling 'Little Billy Fair-play, all the way from 'Olloway' while he rakes in the shekels with both hands and feet." "I'm getting the 'ang of this a bit," said Chris; "I recollect there was a chap named Slaney as once did you down on a deal, an' I remember a red-'aired girl at the Avenir. But all this talk about love lotions and voice dope gets me guessing." "A fillum drama that's true to life ain't bound to be absolutely true as to facts. The trimmings is extra. We opens next with a little slow music an' _Jim Blaney_ meeting _Reginald_ an' telling 'im 'e 's reformed an' given up gambling. Instead 'e's running a very respectable football sweep, the prize to be given to the one as draws the team that scores most goals, an' 'e offers _Reginald_ a commission an' a seat on the drawing committee if he'll recommend it amongst 'is clients. Such is 'is plausibleness that 'e even sells _Suzanne_ a ticket, though she's not rightly sure if Aston Villa is a race-horse or a lottery number. _Reginald_, however, suspects treachery. "'Take your breath reg'ler,' 'e says, or makes movements to that effect. 'The matches for this sweep is played on Saturday, an' I seems to recollect that you an' a lot of the crowd is due for demob on Wednesday, an' I'm going for leave on Tuesday. What guarantee 'ave we that you weigh out before you go?' "'I pays out _immediatemong_ on receipt of the Sunday papers, which will be Sunday night," says _Blaney_. 'That's good enough, ain't it?' "_Reginald_ therefore invests an' participates in the drawing, though still a bit doubtful. 'Is fears is justified, for on Friday night, 'aving got all the money, _Blaney_ steps outside the _estaminay_ an' hits a Military Police over the ear." "Whatever for?" asked Chris. "The War's over." "That's a mystery; but the mystery is solved when they 'ear that _Blaney_ 'as gone to clink to do ten days F.P. No. 2. "''E's just gauged it to a nicety,' says someone; ''e won't come out till we're demobbed, an' 'e'll be orf before _Reginald_ gets back from leave.'