"Brownjohn began to laugh. He stopped and then started again upon a higher note. Amies brought his hand round in a semi-circle. There was a sharp crack as it struck Brownjohn's cheek. The laughter stopped. Brownjohn put a hand to his cheek, nursed it. His reproachful eyes went from one of them to the other.
'The Sergeant had to do that, he didn't want to,' Coverdale said gently."
— Julian Symons (The Man Who Killed Himself)