"It begins to be wet," says I.
"It's water," explains Guncotton.
"You are sure it isn't champagne?" asks Charlie.
"Champagne!" sighs Pringle dreamily.
And we fall back into taciturnity.
"By the way," asks Pringle, "Sergeant, have you still got that bottle of champagne?"
"Of course, I have."
"Well, as the official communiqué will be that bad weather has hampered fighting on the British front, why not go and fetch the bottle and break its neck?"
"My friend," says Charlie solemnly, "I have sworn an oath that I would not open that bottle so long as I had not got my commission!"