'You must thoroughly understand that you are expected to remain in your
places during business hours.'

'Of course,' said Psmith, 'that makes it a little hard for Comrade
Jackson to post letters, does it not?'

'Have you been posting letters?'

'We have,' said Psmith. 'You have wronged us. Seeing our absent places
you jumped rashly to the conclusion that we were merely gadding about
in pursuit of pleasure. Error. All the while we were furthering the
bank's best interests by posting letters.'

'You had no business to leave your place. Jackson is on the posting
desk.'

'You are very right,' said Psmith, 'and it shall not occur again. It
was only because it was the first day, Comrade Jackson is not used to
the stir and bustle of the City. His nerve failed him. He shrank from
going to the post-office alone. So I volunteered to accompany him.
And,' concluded Psmith, impressively, 'we won safely through. Every
letter has been posted.'

'That need not have taken you half an hour.'

'True. And the actual work did not. It was carried through swiftly and
surely. But the nerve-strain had left us shaken. Before resuming our
more ordinary duties we had to refresh. A brief breathing-space, a
little coffee and porridge, and here we are, fit for work once more.'