“It was not what I—you—we thought, sir. The words ‘La Vierge’ were intended to convey that a shrine had been damaged.”
“A shrine? Really. How odd the French are? It was accidental, was it? Bad driving?”
“No, sir, not exactly. A driver wanted shelter for his mules——”
“Quite right, quite right.”
“So he broke into the shrine——”
“Ah, that was a mistake, of course. Whatever were his unit about to let him?”
“The matter was not reported until later.”
“Then they placed him under arrest and stoppages?”
“They were moved immediately, sir. But I didn’t gather that any action was taken.”
“But when Major Stevenage found it out?”