Agnew swung round on him. “What do you want me to do, doctor? What the blue blazes can I do? Guest night! Damn!”
“I ask you to pass it over, sir—this once more—to give Major Crespin a goodish long leave—not too long—and leave the rest to me—let me try out my plan.”
“Two generals—one from the U. S. A.!” Colonel Agnew almost bleated.
“Yes—awkward,” Traherne admitted.
“Damned awkward,” the Colonel said curtly.
“But they’ll not say a word, sir. They were eating your salt. Let me tackle them. General Harland is awkward, I’ll admit. I wish he hadn’t been there.”
“I wish it hadn’t happened,” the Colonel said miserably.
“Yes! But General Harland is not in command of your district, sir. You can’t ask him to wink at your not reporting it. But I can. I think I can get him to ask you not to report it. And you are in command here, sir.”
“You think you can do a lot, don’t you?” Agnew snorted.
“I can speak as a physician, sir,” Traherne said persuasively. “And the General is no end of a good fellow—every one says so. And then I’ll tackle the Bishop—”