"Have you? That's good; what is it?"
"It depends upon the point of view whether it's good or whether it's bad; from one point of view it's uncommonly bad."
"I hope that's not mine."
"I dare say it won't be. You know that throughout I've declined to express a positive opinion about that poker business of Beaton's."
"I do; and I've hated you for it."
"I'm beginning to think that there may be something in your point of view after all."
"Really? That is condescension; and what has brought it about--you're beginning to think?"
"I know what you think, and I know why; you must forgive me if my thoughts are on a different plane. You consider one man only, there's nothing that matters except him; to me there's a very great deal. I'm a soldier; to me the service is first and last; my regiment is all in all."
"Do you think I don't know that?"
"That affair of Beaton's was bad enough in all conscience; it's a tale which will be told of the regiment for many a day; but if it's going to be reopened I don't know what will become of us--I honestly do not."