ehind a haystack if . . . Don't grin at me, sir! How
dare you? If this were not a private conversation I would . . . Look
here! I am responsible for the proper expenditure of lives under my
command for the glory of our country and the honour of the regiment. Do
you understand that? Well, then, what the devil do you mean by letting
yourself be spitted like this by that fellow of the 7th Hussars? It's
simply disgraceful!"

Lieut. D'Hubert felt vexed beyond measure. His shoulders moved slightly.
He made no other answer. He could not ignore his responsibility.

The colonel veiled his glance and lowered his voice still more. "It's
deplorable!" he murmured. And again he changed his tone. "Come!" he went
on, persuasively, but with that note of authority which dwells in the
throat of a good leader of men, "this affair must be settled. I desire
to be told plainly what it is all about. I demand, as your best friend,
to know."

The compelling power of authority, the persuasive influence of kindness,
affected powerfully a man just risen from a bed of sickness. Lieut.
D'Hubert's hand, which grasped the knob of a stick, trembled
slightly. But his northern temperament, sentimental yet cautious and
clear-sighted, too, in its idealistic way, checked his impulse to make a
clean breast of the whole deadly absurdity. According to the precept
of transcendental wisdom, he turned his tongue seven times in his mouth
before he spoke. He made then only a speech of thanks.

The colonel listened, interested at first, then looked mystified. At
last he frowned. "You hesitate?--mille tonnerres! Haven't I told you
that I will condescend to argue with you--as a friend?"

"Yes, Colonel!" answered Lieut. D'Hubert, gently. "But I am afraid
that after you have heard me out as a friend you will take action as my
superior officer."

The attentive colonel snapped his jaws. "Well, what of that?" he said,
frankly. "Is it so damnably disgraceful?"

"It is not," negatived Lieut. D'Hubert, in a faint but firm voice.

"Of course, I shall act for the good of the service. Nothing can prevent
me doing that. What do you think I want to be told for?"

"I know it is not from idle curiosity," protested Lieut. D'Hubert. "I
know you will act wisely. But what about the good fame of the regiment?"

"It cannot be affected by any youthful folly of a lieutenant," said the
colonel, severely.

"No. It cannot be. But it can be by evil tongues. It will be said that
a li