Peter deprecatingly told him.  He had waited ten days, etc., and had at last gone out, and the movement order had come with...

The other cut him short:  “Oh, you’re the chap who failed to report, are you?  Blighted rotters they are at these Group H.Q.’s.  Chuck us over the chit.”

Peter brightened up and obeyed.  The other read it.  “I know,” ventured Peter, “but I got the dickens of a strafe from the Colonel.  He said he had no idea when I could get away, and had better see you.  What can I do?”

“Silly old ass!  You’d better go to-night.  There are plenty of trains, and you’re all alone, aren’t you?  I might just alter the date, but I suppose now you had better go to his nibs the Deputy Assistant Officer controlling Transport.  He’s in the Rue de la Republique, No. 153; you can find it easily enough.  Tell him I sent you.  He’ll probably make you out a new order.”

Peter felt enormously relieved.  He relaxed, smiled, and got out a cigarette, offering the other one.  “Beastly lot of fuss they make over nothing, these chaps,” he said.

“I know,” said the R.T.O.; “but they’re paid for it, my boy, and probably your old dear had been strafed himself this morning.  Well, cheerio; see you again to-night.  Come in time, and I’ll get you a decent place.”

The great man’s office was up two flights of wooden stairs in what looked like a deserted house.  But Peter mounted them with an easy mind.  He had forgiven Lear, and the world smiled.  He still didn’t realise he was acting in Punch.

Outside a suitably labelled door he stood a moment, listening to a well-bred voice drawling out sarcastic orders to some unfortunate.  Then, with a smile he entered.  A Major looked up at him, and heard his story without a word.  Peter got less buoyant as he proceeded, and towards the end he was rather lame.  A silence followed.  The great man scrutinised the order.  “Where were you?” he demanded at last, abruptly.

It was an awkward question.  Peter hedged.  “The O.C. of my camp asked me to go out with him,” he said at last, feebly.

The other picked up a blue pencil and scrawled further on the order.  “We’ve had too much of this lately,” he said icily.  “Officers appear to think they can travel when and how they please.  You will report to the D.A.Q.M.G. at Headquarters, 3rd Echelon.”  He handed the folded order back, and the miserable Peter had a notion that he meant to add:  “And God have mercy on your soul.”

He ventured a futile remonstrance.  “The R.T.O. said you could perhaps alter the date.”

The Major leaned back and regarded him in silence as a remarkable phenomenon such as had not previously come his way.  Then he sighed, and picked up a pen.  “Good-morning,” he said.