Soldiers Three

The Inexpressibles gave a ball. They borrowed a seven–pounder from the Gunners, and wreathed it with laurels, and made the dancing–floor plate–glass, and provided a supper, the like of which had never been eaten before, and set two sentries at the door of the room to hold the trays of programme–cards. My friend, Private Mulvaney, was one of the sentries, because he was the tallest man in the regiment. When the dance was fairly started the sentries were released, and Private Mulvaney went to curry favour with the Mess Sergeant in charge of the supper. Whether the Mess Sergeant gave or Mulvaney took, I cannot say. All that I am certain of is that, at supper–time, I found Mulvaney with Private Ortheris, two–thirds of a ham, a loaf of bread, half a pate–de–foie–gras, and two magnums of champagne, sitting on the roof of my carriage. As I came up I heard him saying