"Great. But I thought — "
"Prehistoric. It's perfectly Cocker." [325]
Such conversations lack the merit of intelligibility to the outsider; but then
the outsider is particularly to be kept from understanding. Dialogues of this
curious sort determine most important events in English society and "haute
politique."
"Then see to it that I get taken seriously."
"Surely, Kurille!"
"Precetur oculis mellitis!"
"Kurille, Catulle!"
When Englishmen return to the use of the dead languages, it is a sign of
that moral state which is said by the Psalmist to resemble the Holy Oil that
flowed down upon the head of Aaron, even unto the skirts of his garments.
The orderly called the Staff to dinner. Cyril, as the guest of the evening,
was on the Commander-in-Chief's right hand.
"You have been very highly recommended to me," said the old Cavalry
leader, when the time came to smoke, "and I look to you to distinguish
yourself accordingly. You will be under the orders of Colonel Mavor, of
course; you should report to him at once."
"May I give you some information direct?" asked Cyril. "The matter hardly
brooks delay, as I see it: you should know it at once, and — to be frank — I
think this my best chance of your ever hearing it."
"A damned funny beginning," growled the general. "Well, get on!" The
permission was not very gracious; but an irregularity is a serious thing in the
British Army. General Cripps made bad worse.
"Unofficially, mind, absolutely unofficially," he added, before Cyril could
begin.
This is the English expedient for listening to anything without hearing it, or
saying anything without meaning it. An official conversation cannot [326] be
thus sterile; it involves notes, memoranda, dockets, recommendations,
reports, the appointment of commissions, interminable deliberations, more
reports, questions in Parliament, the introduction of bills, and so on. Nothing
is done in the end, exactly as in the case of an unofficial conversation; so you
can take your choice, sir, and be damned to you!
"Unofficially, of course, General!" agreed Cyril. "My object is merely to
disclose the plans of the German General Staff."
"Thank you, Captain Grey," replied the great man, sarcastically;" this will