‘What the bloody ’ell do you want to come ’ere for?’ Martlow shot at him in rage.

‘I’ve got as much right ’ere as you ’ave,’ he replied, truculently.

‘The question of right in this connection is of merely academic interest,’ said Bourne, delighted by the position of affairs; ‘but you would admit that we have a prior claim, and are therefore in a stronger position than you are. I am not going to conceal from you, Humphreys, the fact that your presence is unwelcome to us. If you’re going to argue the toss with us, you will finish by being chucked out on your head. Yes, by the three of us if necessary. We haven’t found you very companionable in the past few days, and an impartial consideration of your character and habits has reconciled us to the fact. However, you are here, and we have to make the best of your company, as of other inconveniences inherent in the situation; but if you become at all objectionable, we’ll push you down the bloody ladder and take the consequences. Is that clear to your somewhat atrophied intellect?’

‘Well, there’s room for four on us,’ said Humphreys, with unexpected modesty.

‘That’s all right,’ said Bourne, whose main objects were to take charge of the situation, and forestall any unreasonable quarrelling on the part of Shem or Martlow. ‘This loft is a common refuge for the four of us; but don’t you do anything to give the show away. I think I am the oldest soldier here, so that naturally I’m in charge. If we all end on the mat, I am the person who will bear the chief responsibility.’

‘Shoo,’ said Martlow, lifting a hand to warn them, and they heard more movement in the yard, a cackle of high female voices which invaded the stables, and then again the ladder moved, tilting a little as some one ascended.

‘My God, we’re holding a bloody reception,’ said Bourne, under his breath.

The face of Madame, the proprietress of the farm, appeared above the floor, and turned from one to the other in a spirit of inquiry.

‘Bon jour, madame!’ said Bourne, with great self-possession. ‘J’espère que notre présence ici ne vous dérange point. Nous nous trouvons un peu fatigués après de marches longues, et des journées assez laborieuses. Or, nous avons pris la résolution de nous reposer ici, pendant que le régiment fait des manœuvres dans les champs. Ça n’a pas d’importance, je crois; ces exercices sont vraiment inutiles. Nous ne ferons pas de mal ici.’

‘Mais ce n’est pas très régulier, monsieur,’ she replied dubiously; and some excited queries came from her two friends below. Bourne thought her objection incontrovertible but a little pedantic. Only half of her had risen through the floor, and there she paused in doubt, as though emerging, like a conjured spirit, from the shades.

‘Montez, madame, je vous en prie’; he implored her. ‘Comme vous dites, ce n’est pas régulier, et ce sera vraiment dommage si nous sommes découverts. Montez, madame, vous et vos amies; et puis nous causerons ensemble.’