“Very true, very true,” said Omer Pacha. “It is just the same with my men. Show them anything better than their pilaff, they will not adopt it for the world.”
“You have done wonders, Monsieur Soyer, in the hospitals at Scutari, as I perceive from the report and the letter addressed to me by Lord William Paulet.”
“I am very happy to have succeeded so well; and hope the system will in time be followed out by every hospital, as it is less trouble than the old one, not more expensive, and has been highly approved by all the medical authorities.”
“Oh,” said Lord Raglan, “if it has been approved of by the faculty, there is no doubt of its being adopted at home.”
“I have great numbers of testimonials from the heads of the medical departments.” By this time we had arrived near Kadikoi, which then consisted of only a few wooden huts. The rain never ceased, and we went at a foot-pace all the way, which gave us an opportunity of conversing. I had the honour of riding on Lord Raglan’s right side, and Omer Pacha was on his left. No sooner did we come within view of the plain of Balaklava, than his lordship pointed out the spot where the battle was fought, and asked me if I could see a small church at a distance.
“Perfectly well,” was my answer.
“From this spot, on a fine day, you can see the enemy quite distinctly,” said Lord Raglan; “and on that large mound which appears so close to us, you can easily see their sentries.”
“So I can, my lord. Is that a Russian picket?”
“Yes, it is.”
I thanked Lord Raglan for the information; saying, “As I have no particular fancy to have the honour of being made a prisoner of war, I shall take care not to go too near our friends the enemies.” His lordship turned round and made some remark to Omer Pacha, who laughed heartily; but I did not distinctly hear what he said—the road was rugged, and Lord Raglan wore a mackintosh with a hood over his head—it was, however, to the effect that the Russians could not secure a more useful prisoner than myself, especially for—— (the name escaped me), who is a great epicure.