In the same sneering tone he informed a couple of privates standing there that "'ere is a fellow that 'as business an' 'e wants to go before services." They were duly shocked, of course, and they looked unutterable horror while he went into the tent and brought out the major.

Still in the same sneering manner, laying particular stress on the "business," he brought my case before the commanding officer.

The major was of a different stamp of man.

I liked him as soon as I saw him, and to him I stated my case in the same fashion as before.
"Didn't you know you had to stay for services ?" he asked.
"Certainly not," I answered, "or I should have gone without my breakfast.
You have no placards posted to that effect, nor was I so informed when I entered the place." He meditated a moment.

"You can go," he said.
It was twelve o'clock when I gained the street, and I couldn't quite make up my mind whether I had been in the army or in prison.