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 like doing a little impertinence in a world that's foundering"

The world was foundering.

"I'd go out," he said, "but I don't want to have to put that filthy little Pitkins under arrest. He only drinks because he's shellshocked. He's not man enough else, the unclean little Nonconformist"

McKechnie said:

"Hold on I'm a Presbyterian myself"

Tietjens answered:

"You would be" He said: "I beg your pardon There will be no more parades The British Army is dishonoured for ever"

McKechnie said:

"That's all right, old bean"

Tietjens exclaimed with sudden violence:

"What the hell are you doing in the officers' lines Don't you know it's a court-martial offence?"

He was confronted with the broad, mealy face of his regimental quartermaster-sergeant, the sort of fellow who wore an officer's cap against the regulations, with a Tommie's silver-plated badge. A man determined to get Sergeant-Major Cowley's job. The man had come in unheard under the roll of voices outside. He said:

"Excuse me, sir, I took the liberty of knocking The sergeant-major is in an epileptic fit I wanted your directions before putting the draft into the tents with the other men" Having said that tentatively he hazarded cautiously: "The sergeant-major throws these fits, sir, if he is suddenly woke up And Second-Lieutenant Pitkins woke him very suddenly"

Tietjens said: