The commanding officer rolled an intimate eye at his wife.
That lady was sitting big with rage, but her words were cordial still: "Indeed, Mr. Albumblatt, the way officers who have influence in Washington shirk duty here and get details East is something I can't laugh about. At one time the Captain was his own adjutant and quartermaster. There are more officers at this table to-night than I've seen in three years. So we are doubly glad to welcome you at Fort Brown."
"I am fortunate to be on duty where my services are so required, though I could object to calling it Fort Brown." And Augustus exhaled a smile.
"Prefer Smith?" said Captain Starr.
"You misunderstand me. When we say Fort Brown, Fort Russell, Fort Et Coetera, we are inexact. They are not fortified."
"Cantonment Et Coetera would be a trifle lengthy, wouldn't it?" put in the Doctor, his endurance on the wane.
"Perhaps; but technically descriptive of our Western posts. The Germans criticise these military laxities."
Captain Duane now ceased talking, but urbanely listened; and from time to time his eye would scan Augustus, and then a certain sublimated laugh, to his wife well known, would seize him for a single voiceless spasm, and pass. The experienced Albumblatt meanwhile continued, "By-the-way, Doctor, you know the Charité, of course?"
Doctor Guild had visited the great hospital, but being now a goaded man he stuck his nose in his plate, and said, unwisely: "Sharrity? What's that?" For then Augustus told him what and where it was, and that Krankenhaus is German for hospital, and that he had been deeply impressed with the modernity of the ventilation. "Thirty-five cubic metres to a bed in new wards," he stated. "How many do you allow, Doctor?"
"None," answered the surgeon.