He had not thought of that.
V
Our superintendent commanding was painfully short of men, with half his troop out on the plains, while the rest had staff jobs exempting them from duty. At the great ten o'clock parade, the orderly officers, sergeant-major and orderly corporal would assemble to hear one rookie answer his name for recruit drill, stable orderly, mess fatigue and odd jobs. So, at the end of a fortnight's rest in the cells I received a hint that an apology to Inspector Sarde would win me back my freedom, to do half the work of the post. I asked leave to appear before Superintendent Fourmet, and when I was paraded at the orderly room, was so jolly glad to see the old chap again that I could not help smiling brightly.
"Prisonnier," said Wormy, "you withdraw the tripe 'ound?"
"Yes, sir." I cocked up one eye at Sarde.
"You apologize?"
"I wish I hadn't said it."
"Bien! You promise to be'ave?"
"For six months, sir; till the moon of falling leaves."
"Eh? Vat you means?"