"Rather not! He's in my platoon. I let him off the troublesome fatigues."
The conversation seemed to be hanging fire. I asked:
"What were you talking about when I arrived?"
"Oh, nothing much—nothing at all interesting. You got any news?"
I was stupidly inspired to tell them of little Frémont's death.
"Poor boy!" sighed Laraque.
"Whose turn is it now?" Fortin remarked.
Silence fell again. I said:
"You don't seem very enthusiastic here."
"Not much reason to be."