"Where else, in God's name . . . I am not using the Almighty's name blasphemously . . . _can_ you be sent to? I _know_ it's probably death to send you up the line--in your condition of health. And to poor Perry's Army. The Germans will be through it the minute the weather breaks." He began again: "You understand: I'm not the War Office. I can't send any officer anywhere. I can't send you to Malta or India. Or to other commands in France. I can send you home--in disgrace. I can send you to your own battalion. On promotion! . . . Do you understand my situation? . . . I have no alternative." Tietjens said: "Not altogether, sir." The general swallowed and wavered from side to side. He said: "For God's sake, try to. . . . I am genuinely concerned for you. I won't--I'm damned if I will!--let it appear that you're disgraced. . . . If you were McKechnie himself I wouldn't! The only really good jobs I've got to give away are on my own staff. I can't have you there. Because of the men. At the same time . . ." He paused and said with a ponderous shyness: "I believe there's a God. . . . I believe that, though wrong may flourish, right will triumph in the end! . . . If a man is innocent, his innocence will one day appear. . . . In a humble way I want to . . . help Providence. . . . I want some one to be able one day to say: '_General Campion, who knew the ins and outs of the affair_ . . .' promoted you! In the middle of it. . . ." He said: "It isn't much. But it's not nepotism. I would do as much for any man in your position." Tietjens said: "It's at least the act of a Christian gentleman!" A certain lack-lustre joy appeared in the general's eyes. He said: "I'm not used to this sort of situation. . . . I hope I've always tried to help my junior officers. . . . But a case like this. . . ." He said: "Damn it. . . . The general commanding the 9th French Army is an intimate friend of mine. . . . But in face of your confidential report--I _can't_ ask him to ask for you. That's blocked!" Tietjens said: "I do not propose, sir, at any rate in your eyes, to pass as putting the interests of any power before those of my own country. If you examine my confidential report you will find that the unfavourable insertions are initialled _G. D._ . . . They are the initials of a Major Drake. . . ." The general said bewilderingly: "Drake . . . Drake . . . I've heard the name." Tietjens said: "It doesn't matter, sir. . . . Major Drake's a gentleman who doesn't like me. . . ." The general said: "There are so many. You don't try to make yourself popular, I must say!" Tietjens said to himself: