"I am married," he said bluntly, with his salute.
"What?" roared the colonel.
"I was married when I was here before."
Finally the officer smiled. That is the way he would have been likely to do it at the color-bearer's age.
"I remember that you said you did not mean to marry! You were married! Well, well, if she is a samurai—"
"She is an eta," said Arisuga. "That one in China."
"Ah! After a little while you can divorce her. No one need know of it."
"I beg your pardon."
"You will not?"
"I cannot."