He cut me short.
“It doesn’t matter what your Christian name is. There was no Christian name on the list. You have seen the name Bouin: you’ve only got to carry out——”
“But, sir, the times I go on duty have been definitely fixed for the last two weeks. I haven’t noticed——”
The man jumped to his feet, and I saw he was short—almost ridiculously short. He came towards me angrily, sputtering into his moustache.
“A punishment has been ordered. Some one has got to take it; and it’s you who’ve got to do so. What is your profession?”
“A teacher of mathematics, and a volunteer.”
He added in a tense voice:
“It doesn’t follow that because you are not a conscript you’re going to be cock of the walk here. Besides, men of education like yourself ought to be an example to the others. Follow my advice, and do your four days, my boy.”
“But, Monsieur l’officier——”
“You do as I advise you. This is not the moment, when the enemy is hammering at the gates of the capital—this is not the moment, I repeat, to scatter germs of indiscipline.”