"You will not even open it to celebrate the recovery of your nose?"
"I will not. I have not brought it all the long way from the Dardanelles, through Egypt and the Mediterranean to France, only to forget my oath when I am so near my goal!"
That bottle of champagne has a history. When we were at the Dardanelles the Sergeant had made himself a wonderful dugout, quite a spacious room, magnificently furnished with all sorts of empty cases. It was quite a cosy place. Charlie had even caught a fox, that was his dog, and a kingfisher, that was his canary. On the completion of the abode we had a house warming. We were six, namely, the four inseparables whom you have the advantage of knowing, plus an Australian and a French guest.
The menu was:
SOUP.
Oxo.
ENTREE.
Kidneys.
(obtained from the Butcher Sergeant in return for a pair of braces which he wanted badly.)
HORS D'ŒUVRES.