Captain Malet talked to the sergeant for a few minutes on matters of casual interest, glancing occasionally in the direction of the resting men.

‘Sergeant, I want to speak to Bourne; not yet, let him cool off and finish his cigarette. I think he might go for a commission. There’s a great wastage in officers, and they seem to be running short. They are always pressing us to recommend likely men. I think he might do, don’t you? What’s your own opinion of him?’

‘I don’t know what to think of ’im, sir. ’e’s a queer chap. When ’e first came to us we all took ’im for a dud, but after a few days ’e seemed quite able to take care of ’imself; fact I thought ’e was gettin’ a little too much of ’is own way; thought ’e might be gettin’ a bit fresh, an’ decided to keep an eye on ’im. I couldn’t find any fault with ’im, ’e could take a tellin’ off without showin’ temper. ’e was a well-disciplined man. ’e didn’t try to make friends with anyone, but ’e was quite friendly, if anyone wanted to talk to ’im. ’e wouldn’t be put upon, either. All the men got to like ’im. ’e’s a gentleman all right, an’ better educated than we are, but ’e never talks of ’imself. ’e seems out o’ place in the ranks some’ow.’

‘You seem rather doubtful about him,’ Captain Malet observed.

‘It isn’t that, sir,’ said the sergeant. ‘I think ’e might make a very good officer. ’e’s not quite the build of a soldier; bit light, sir; but he’s pretty smart. Only ’e says ’e don’t want to leave the comp’ny, sir.’

‘Well, a man can’t shirk his responsibilities in that way. He might have stayed in the orderly-room if he had liked. I was rather interested to see what he would do, and I was rather glad he didn’t stay there. Did he say anything to you about it?’

‘Well, only between ourselves, sir,’ said the sergeant, discreetly.

‘Not for the use of the young, eh? I see. Well, bring him up to me, and I shall have a talk with him.’

The sergeant saluted, took a few steps towards the men, and then shouted Bourne’s name. Captain Malet saw his man get up, after the momentary hesitation of surprise, dust the grass and dry earth from his trousers, pick up his rifle and double towards them. Yes, he was a bit light; pity he hadn’t a bit more stamina; it counts for such a lot; and he acknowledged Bourne’s salute.

‘So you’ve given up the crown and the glory, Bourne,’ he said, humouring him with an easy smile.

‘I don’t know about the crown and the glory, sir. I was dumped.’

‘I am under the impression that you probably asked for it. You didn’t go out of your way to make friends, did you? Why did you stay there so long, if you didn’t like it?’