"We have little time to spare, Berwick. How long do you want with Dr. Khayme?"
"Did you expect me to begin work to-night, General?"
"Yes; you ought to be within their lines by daylight."
"And what is the time now?"
"Ten o'clock."
"Can you wait my answer an hour?"
"What do you mean by your answer?" he said.
The question and the tone were not to my taste. If I was being treated as a party to a possible agreement, well and good; if not--if the general was merely commanding me to obey him, well and good--I would obey without further delay or hesitation.
I rose and saluted. "General," I said, "if you order me to go into the enemy's lines, I shall go. If you are asking me to go into the enemy's lines, I inquire, in my turn, whether you can wait my answer an hour."
"Sit down, Berwick," said the general.