“Their sudden appearance at the gates,—watching the guard turn out for the officer of the day, and the closing of the gates?”
“Assuredly.”
“Then, what else?” Raymond demanded, bewildered.
“You omitted a circumstance known to no officer but yourself,” said Mervyn, severely.
“I mentioned Peters and his illness—isn’t it there?” he could hardly forbear snatching the paper to see for himself.
“You did not mention the intrusion of the drummer,” said Mervyn, sternly. “I overheard the men laughing about it to-day.”
“Oh, the little drummer’s frolic—that was a trifle,” said Raymond, trying to smile.
“You suppressed this matter in your report. It was your duty to report any unusual circumstances. You will see on this paper under the head of ‘Remarks’ no mention of this circumstance.”
“Lord, man, it was altogether immaterial!” cried Raymond, excessively nettled by this reflection on his conduct as an officer.
“Disorderly behavior, interference with guard-duty, intoxication, and buffoonery out of place are serious breaches of conduct, of evil example, and subversive of discipline. These seem to me very material subjects for report.”