"Arthur," I said, "you are not handsome, but you have sterling qualities
and know a thing or two."
"You are not exactly a mezzotint yourself," Arthur retorted, "and I'm
not sure that you have any particular qualities yet. What does this lead
up to?"
"This," I said. "Suppose you are a sentry, outside barracks or an
encampment of some kind."
"I'm supposing," he said.
"And suppose," I went on, "you don't know me."
"I've supposed worse things than that," said Arthur with decision.
"And try further," I said, "to imagine that it's a dark night, and I
come along and don't notice you. You'd say, 'Halt, who goes there?'
wouldn't you?"
"I should if I remembered my lines, I suppose."
"Very well," I said. "Then I should say, 'Friend.'"
"Well," said Arthur, "where's the catch?"
"There isn't a catch," I said. "What I want to know is, how do we go on
after that?"
"I should ask you if you'd got such a thing as a cigarette about you,"
said Arthur.
"You might do that," I said, "but it doesn't sound helpful. The reason I
ask is because I've read the instructions several times in the papers on
the courtesies to be observed when meeting a sentry; but the scene
always ends at this point--'Friend.' What happens next?"
"Perhaps the right thing," said Arthur, "would be for you to ask after
the Colonel's wife. But I might not let you get as far as that. The odds
would be in favour of my not believing you when you said 'Friend,' and
in that case I should either shoot or pink you. The choice between these
two processes would lie with me."
"But wouldn't that be rather sudden? Surely you make another remark
first. I seem to remember something about 'sign and countersign.'"
"You're thinking of trigonometry, aren't you?" said Arthur.
"Perhaps I am," I said. "Anyway it's awkward not knowing what happens
next."
"I know the best way to find out," said Arthur suddenly. "Get your boots
on. We'll go and enlist."
* * * * *