" "Your excellency, you gave him leave yourself, on the march.

" "Gave him leave? Leave? That's just like you young men," said the regimental commander cooling down a little.

" Leave indeed....

One says a word to you and you... What?" he added with renewed irritation, "I beg you to dress your men decently.

" And the commander, turning to look at the adjutant, directed his jerky steps down the line.