“Why on earth, then, have you no epaulets?”
And he began to frown terribly, considering that such carelessness augured ill for the service. Daniel excused himself as well as he could, which was very little, and then boldly approached the purpose of his call.
“I have received an order for active service.”
“I know,—on board ‘The Conquest,’ in the roadstead at Rochefort, for Cochin China.”
“I have to be at my post in four days.”
“And you think the time too short? It is short. But impossible to grant you ten minutes more.”
“I do not ask for leave of absence, captain; I want the favor—to be allowed to keep my place here.”
The old officer could hardly keep his seat.
“You would prefer not going on board ship,” he exclaimed, “the very day after your promotion? Ah, come, you are mad!”
Daniel shook his head sadly.