The Sergeant-Major was inordinately brave. He felt the weight of his responsibility and thought that he could cow the Marquis.
Advancing boldly to the door during a lull in the storm, he loudly shouted:
"Humphries, you're under arrest. It's the Sergeant-Major!"
Came the Marquis' pleasant drawl:
"I like you, Sergeant-Major, so please k'way't'oor!"
"What's that?"
"I said I—like you. So keep away-hic-from that door!"
The Sergeant-Major clutched the door-knob.
A volley rattled through the shattered panels.
"I told you, Sergeant-Major, keep away!" said the Marquis coolly.