“We are having some annoyances,” he said.
“Yes, but the matter is not very serious. This is the trouble we have to face.”
I related what had just taken place between the officer and myself, whereupon the poor non-commissioned officer, lifting his arms, exclaimed: “I am done for!”
“No, no,” I said, “I assure you that all is not lost. There is a means to arrange matters.”
“How?” he asked.
“Well, according to regulations, one day each week you spend the afternoon in town. Let us suppose,” I said, “that the afternoon the instructions concerning me were read by the sergeant-major, you were absent.”
“Ah!” replied Hoch; “but I was present.”
“I am not asking you,” I said, “if you were present. I am affirming that you were absent.…”
“Very well,” said he, “but the sergeant-major will remember that I was present.”
“I will attend to this,” I said. “For the time being we will take it that you were absent when the instructions were read.”