It was the staff officer who had turned him out of the booth at Grunth.

He was shouting in a gasping voice: "Are you mad? You have twice been ordered to retreat, and you..." "Why are they down on me?" thought Tushin, looking in alarm at his superior.

"I... don't..." he muttered, holding up two fingers to his cap.

"I..." But the staff officer did not finish what he wanted to say.