I felt that it was up to me to play the old war-game, even if it ruined my chance of getting insured. I therefore started to enumerate the various minor ailments from which I suffered.
"To begin with," I explained, "I've sprained my wrist rather badly and—"
"That won't prevent your holding a rifle," interrupted Colonel severely.
"Then," I continued, "sometimes I have a headache."
"Ah," said Major, "and I suppose when you run uphill your heart palpitates like a pea in a drum?"
"Yes," I replied quickly, "it does do that. How did you know?"
Major laughed a laugh such as Hindenburg himself might have delivered. It was cold and mirthless and must have hurt his face.
"Come," said Colonel sharply, "let's have no more of this humbug. Drink and smoke less and keep yourself fit; and don't come whining before us, complaining of this and that. A few route marches will soon set you up."
"But, seriously," I objected, "my health is not of the best and I feel I ought to warn you that there are slight disabilities in my constitution which——"
"Which make you," interjected Major, "of course unfit to do your duty." His voice was like steel wire and I hated him.