"There is no accusation against Mrs. Tietjens, sir!" The general said: "By God, there is!" Tietjens said: "I am prepared to take all the blame, sir." The general said: "You shan't. . . . I am determined to get to the bottom of all this. . . . You have treated your wife damn badly. . . . You admit to that. . . ." Tietjens said: "With great want of consideration, sir. . . ." The general said: "You have been living practically on terms of separation from her for a number of years? You don't deny that was on account of your own misbehaviour. For how many years?" Tietjens said: "I don't know, sir. . . . Six or seven!" The general said sharply: "Think, then. . . . It began when you admitted to me that you had been sold up because you kept a girl in a tobacco-shop? That was at Rye in 1912. . . ." Tietjens said: "We have not been on terms since 1912, sir." The general said: "But why? . . . She's a most beautiful woman. She's adorable. What could you want better? . . . She's the mother of your child. . . ." Tietjens said: "Is it necessary to go into all this, sir? . . . Our differences were caused by . . . by differences of temperament. She, as you say, is a beautiful and reckless woman. . . . Reckless in an admirable way. I, on the other hand . . ." The general exclaimed: "Yes! that's just it. . . . What the hell are you? . . . You're not a soldier. You've got the makings of a damn good soldier. You amaze me at times. Yet you're a disaster; you are a disaster to every one who has to do with you. You are as conceited as a hog; you are as obstinate as a bullock. . . . You drive me mad. . . . And you have ruined the life of that beautiful woman. . . . For I maintain she once had the disposition of a saint. . . . Now: I'm waiting for your explanation!" Tietjens said: "In civilian life, sir, I was a statistician. Second secretary to the Department of Statistics. . . ." The general exclaimed convictingly: "And they've thrown you out of that! Because of the mysterious rows you made. . . ." Tietjens said: "Because, sir, I was in favour of the single command. . . ." The general began a long wrangle: "But why were you? What the hell had it got to do with you?" Couldn't Tietjens have given the Department the statistics they wanted--even if it meant faking them? What was discipline for if subordinates were to act on their consciences? The home Government had wanted statistics faked in order to dish the Allies. . . . Well . . . Was Tietjens French or English? Every damn thing Tietjens did . . . Every _damn_ thing, made it more impossible to do anything for him! With his attainments he ought to be attached to the staff of the French Commander-in-Chief. But that was forbidden in his, Tietjens', confidential report. There was an underlined note in it to that effect Where else, then, in Heaven's name, could Tietjens be sent to? He looked at Tietjens with intent blue eyes: