Page:Lieutenant and Others (1915) by Sapper.djvu/155

 Brown reported his departure that evening, and with a sigh of relief from the Major the odoriferous Ebeneezer was struck off the strength with effect from that day’s date. It is true that I noticed strange and mysterious absences on the part of my servant when he left carrying something in paper and returned empty-handed, and that in the back of my mind I had a vague suspicion that somewhere in the neighbourhood there still remained that evil-smelling animal looked after and fed by Robert Brown. But, as a week passed and we saw and smelt the beast no more, my suspicions were lulled to rest, and I dismissed the untoward incident from my mind. I am always of an optimistic disposition!

I should say it was about ten days after Ebeneezer’s departure that I awoke one morning early to the sound of a violent altercation without.

“I tells you, you can’t see the Major. ’E’s in ’is bath.” Peering out, I saw Brown and the cook warding off two extremely excited Belgians.

“Bath! Bath! Qu’est que c’est—bath!” The stouter Belgian gesticulated freely.