Matt grinned. "Okay, thanks."
Oscar said, "How hard shall we punish you, Tex? Tea and toast?"
"Anything you want. Let's really celebrate. Which reminds me-I think we ought to have a drink."
"Huh?" said Oscar. "And have an M.P. catch us? No, thank you."
Matt started to protest but Tex stood up. "Just leave this to Father Jarman. It's high time you two poor, underprivileged outlanders tasted a real old Southern mint julep." He started for the bar. Oscar shrugged.
Tex scouted out the bar before entering. There were no cadets, of course; more important there were no officers and no marine M.P.'s. The hour was early and the bar almost deserted. He went up to the bartender. "Can you make a mint julep?" he asked.
The bartender looked up and answered, "Beat it. I'm not supposed to serve you liquor. This is off limits to cadets."
"I didn't ask you if this was off limits-I asked you if you could make a mint julep." Tex slid a bill across the counter. "Three mint juleps, in fact."
The barman eyed the bill. Finally he caused it to disappear. "Go on back into the dining room."
"Right!" said Tex.