‘I wanted to dodge work for a bit, sir.’

‘I don’t think that is a very creditable proceeding,’ said Captain Malet, and noticed the uneasy resentment flickering in Bourne’s face. ‘I like to get out of a man all he is worth. I work ’em until they drop, isn’t that what they say? Then if the medical officer thinks they’re past work, they can get a slacker’s job among the details: it’s usually rather a dirty, greasy, lousy kind of job, but I suppose they do some necessary work. Anyway they have done some, by the time I have finished with them, if they never do any more. Of course, I do my best to find out in what way a man can be most useful, but it’s often a case of hit or miss, one hasn’t time.’

He paused and looked at Bourne, who remained quite impassive under his gaze.

‘As a matter of fact,’ continued Captain Malet, ‘I thought you deserved a bit of a rest. I think you do pretty well as a rule; as far as your work with the company is concerned I haven’t any fault to find with you. You’re not windy, at least you keep your head. But you haven’t the build.’

‘Sir, after all I am a good deal heftier than some of the boys. …’

‘Now, you know I’m right,’ said Captain Malet firmly. ‘These boys, as you call them, train on, most of them will fill out and make two of you. You are as fit as you ever will be, and you’re quite fit now, in the pink, I should say. But all these men are hardened to all kinds of manual labour, which you can’t do. I bet you were never in proper training until you joined the army. You won’t train on, you’re much more likely to train off. If you crock up, you will only be a damned nuisance. You are out of place where you are. I believe you have a certain amount of influence over the men about you; I don’t mean that you try to influence them, but quite naturally they think you know a bit more than they do, and they are likely to be swayed by your opinion. Well, that’s all wrong: you’ve no business in your position to have any influence over the men. Oh, yes, you get some stout fellow with bags of courage, and the other men look up to him. That is different. I don’t say they don’t admire your pluck, in fact I believe they do, but that isn’t what influences them. It is something else. You ought to go in for a commission.’

‘I would much rather stay with the company, sir.’

‘It isn’t a question of what you would much rather do,’ said Captain Malet, a little irritably. ‘It is a question of what you ought to do. You have no right to shirk your responsibilities in the matter. I said that to Sergeant Tozer, when he said he thought you would rather stay with the company. Well, I say it to you, too, and I mean it.’