In response to a gesture from the sergeant I stepped across, entered the office, and found myself in the presence of a gentleman in the uniform of a major of the line, who was seated at a big table covered with papers and text-books. He was a red-faced man of about forty, with short-cropped grey hair and a heavy moustache of the same tint. The eyes that looked into mine had a kindly light in them, which belied the somewhat brusque manner of their owner.
I uncovered as I entered the room, and saluted him with the stereotyped "Bonjour, Monsieur!" to which he nodded a response, and, without further preamble, said:
"So you are desirous of enlisting in one of the Régiments Étrangers?"
"Yes, sir," I replied.
"Since when have you come to that decision?"
This unexpected question rather nonplussed me, but regaining my composure I answered with apparent coolness:
"Oh! since yesterday."
He smiled, and then said, to my astonishment and anger: