"If only I can hold him," thought I, "I shall pull through."
I did hold him, and I did pull through.
"I don't know that I can compliment you on your perspicacity," said the Great Man, "but I can see now where the blame lies. I had intended to withdraw your name from the Expeditionary Force, but——"
I got up, mouth open.
"Expeditionary Force?" It can only have been a feeble gasp which the Great Man heard. "Am I going out with the Force?"
The Great Man smiled and put his hand on my shoulder.
"We'll overlook it this time. Let's see how well you can do your job. And if you send in your claim for travelling expenses, send it to me and I'll countersign it."
I suppose I must have said something by way of thanks. I suppose I must have saluted, and closed the door behind me. I know that I cleared half a dozen or so of the stairs down at a bound and fell over an astonished sentry at the bottom. It must have looked most undignified in a Gunner captain, but—I had actually been selected to join the British Expeditionary Force with a command of my own and——
I leaped into the waiting taxicab in a state of delirium.
The driver touched his cap.