But I had no success with the company clerk; the leave which I desired was a special one, and that did not come under his jurisdiction.  “The orderly sergeant knows more about this business than I do.  Go to him about it,” he said.

By Wednesday evening I spoke to the orderly sergeant, who looked puzzled for a moment.  “Come with me to the lieutenant,” he said.  “He’ll know more about this matter than I do, and he’ll see into it.  But it will be difficult to get special leave, you know; they don’t like to give it.”

“Why?” I asked.

“Why?” he repeated; “what the devil does it matter to you?  You’re paid here to do what you’re told, not to ask questions.”

The lieutenant was courteous and civil.  “I can’t do anything in the matter,” he said.  “The orderly sergeant will take you to the company officer, Captain ——­, and he’ll maybe do something for you.”

“If you’re lucky,” said the sergeant in a low whisper.  About eight o’clock in the evening I paraded in the long, dimly-lighted passage that leads to our company orderly-room, and there I had to wait two hours while the captain was conducting affairs of some kind or another inside.  When the door was opened I was ordered inside.

“Quick march!  Left turn!  Halt!” ordered the sergeant as I crossed the threshold, and presently I found myself face to face with our company commander, who was sitting by a desk with a pile of papers before him.

“What is it?” he asked, fixing a pair of stern eyes on me, and I explained my business with all possible despatch.

“Of course you understand that everything is now subservient to your military duties; they take premier place in your new life,” said the officer.  “But I’ll see what I can do.  By myself I am of little help.  However, you can write out a pass telling the length of time you require off duty, and I’ll lay it before the proper authorities.”

I wrote out the “special pass,” which ran as follows: 

“Rifleman ——­ has permission to be absent from his quarters from 6 p.m. (date) to 10 p.m. (date), for the purpose of proceeding to London.”

I came in from a long march on Thursday evening to find the pass signed, stamped, and ready.  On the following night I could go to London, and I spent the evening ’phoning, wiring, and writing to town, arranging matters for the day ahead.  Also, I asked some friends to have dinner with me at seven o’clock on Friday night.

Next day we had divisional exercise, which is usually a lengthy affair.  In the morning I approached the officer and asked if I might be allowed off parade, seeing I had to set out for London at six o’clock in the evening.

“Oh! we shall be back early,” I was told, “back about three or thereabouts.”