"My name is Browne, sir, and I——"
"Fresh from the incubator?"
"I've passed," said the boy in shy triumph, "but the Adjutant?"
"I think the Adjutant is out on the tiles. Let me introduce you; Mr. Browne, Trooper Ali."
Prince Ali bowed stiffly and walked away.
"Won't you sit down?" Lord Sydney offered a chair.
The boy sat down, and Sydney joining him, he produced a cigarette case.
The trooper appeared to be shocked. "Put it away," he whispered. "We don't smoke—bad for a man in training."
From a syphon on the table beside him he filled a glass with sparkling water, a delicately flavoured draught, which the boy accepted wondering.
"Don't you drink wine or——"