Blake produced the book nervously.
"I wonder if you'd mind," he began.
The General looked inquiring, and started feeling for his glasses. He was just feeling in his fifth pocket when Billy came to the rescue.
"It's only some nonsense of Blake's, sir," he said. "He keeps a visitors' book."
"Ah, well," said the General, getting up, "another day, perhaps."
When we were alone again Blake turned on Billy.
"You are a silly ass," he said. "If you hadn't interfered, he'd have done it. Well, I shall fill it in myself now."
He took a pencil and wrote:
"Monday—Hospitably received by 'D' Company and much enjoyed the mess president's amusing conversation. The company commander and a subaltern named Rogers struck me as rather lacking in intelligence. R. Blake, D.S.O., Brig.-Gen."
* * * * *