"Do you know how to cook that canned asparagus?" asked the Colonel as Rawson turned to leave the room.
"No Sir," said Rawson.
"Well how do you think you would cook it?" asked the Colonel.
This was a poser; Rawson was evidently nonplussed.
"Would you boil it, Sir?" he ventured when the silence had become oppressive.
"You guessed right," and the Colonel deftly flicked a burned match up behind a picture of the local curé. "What would you do with the tough part of the stalks?"
"I dunno, Sir." Rawson was stumped again.
"Have you ever eaten asparagus?" asked the Colonel.
"No, Sir," said Rawson, "but I've seen it in the stores."
"Well, go and boil it for five minutes with some salt," ordered the Colonel, "and then serve dinner."