"I don't think you understood what I was trying to tell you," I said.
"I did have some difficulty in following it, sir," he said.
"H'm! What were you in civil life?"
"Mathematical master in a secondary school, sir."
I could not rise to the occasion. I fled to the mess and ordered a brandy and soda.
Speaking about rising to the occasion brings to my mind another army incident in which I did not shine. I was a recruit in the infantry, and a gym sergeant was putting us through physical jerks. He told us the familiar tale that although we had broken our mothers' hearts we wouldn't break his; in short he put the wind up us. I got very nervous.
"Right turn!" he roared, and I thought he said "Right about turn."
He told the squad to stand easy, and then he eyed me curiously.
"You! Big fellow! Take that smile off your face!"
I don't know why he said that for I couldn't have smiled at that moment for anything less than my ticket. He studied me carefully for a bit, then enlightenment seemed to dawn on him.