28th June, late morning; Even more trouble

Capitain Sourette was walking - still rather painfully - back to his own tent with a very confused look on his face, his hands full of paperwork.

When he heard footsteps approaching, he looked up, more not to walk into anyone and risk loosing his balance. But when he saw who it was, he stopped and hailed the young officer.

"M. Saint-Hilaire. A word with you, if you please!"

"Yes, capitaine." Saint-Hilaire spoke and straightened. He winced and paused momentarily then turned to the officer in question. "Are we to speak here... or elsewhere?" He had nearly bumped into this man, he had not been paying attention and he had been quite angry. He was still, but it was better that he keep his temper in check.

Sourette thrust the bundle of papers at him, pages of forms filled in Bastien's immaculate clerk script.

"What is this, Saint-Hilaire? I got these. On time. Without having to threaten him. In perfect order! Including all reports he owned. He even filled out the triplicate boot replacement requisition! And that is due only the day after tomorrow!"

The last one seemed to fuel his irritation even more.

"....Sir?" Saint-Hilaire was confused as to how good work on Bastien's side was actually a bad thing. He shifted his weight a bit, relaxed his shoulders to ease up the tension on his back.

"....is it, incorrect for lieutenant Prayon to show innitiative every so often.. go so far as to accomplish a full few day's work, in a shorter time than it takes him usually?" He studied the captain.

"It is not incorrect, it is incredible! In his whole carreer, he has done this only once befo ..."

The captain broke off and looked sharply at Etienne.

"He isn't in trouble, is he?"

"No more than usual capitaine......therefor.... no captaine." Saint-Hilaire replied. He did not intend to betray his friend. The duel was not going to be looked up to. The captain would have probably made Bastien's life miserable at the very least..at the worst, Saint-Hilaire did not consider.

"...He is perhaps just having a ...momentary lapse of good will. We could hope this lasts, no?" He smiled in a way he hoped convincing.

The Captain looked at Etienne through narrowed eyes, but the corners were crinkled more from laughter than from worry.

"If that spur of good will is in any way related to your recent reappearance, Saint-Hilaire, then I beg that you will get lost and miraculously reappear as soon as this miracle ceases to work. Best unharmed, and without missing any of your duties ..."

"I shall hope not to disappear again, sir. But on your orders I may pretend so.. only to be found again..." He did not want to think of another such occasion where he would become a prisoner of either the Portuguese , or at this time, of the Spanish. Neither were a pleasant host, and he had heard and seen what the Spanish could, and would do. He had heard of stories too, of how the screams in the night were of men from the cavalry, that were thrown into the fire, while their fellows could do nought but watch from the distance.

He shook his head and glanced at the man again. "Is there more, than you need from me or from the lieutenant? I am on my way to see him now, so I can relay a message should it be needed."

The captain looked apologetic for a moment. He clearly had not wanted to evoke bad memories with his joking suggestion. He collected his paperwork back and shook his head.

"No, thank you, monsieur."

He was already about to turn away when he looked down at them again, then back to Saint-Hilaire and said in a low voice:

"You know ... if there should be something ... it would not be the first time that I have had to get up very early because of M. Prayon. And if it serves to make him do his paperwork, I will be quite willing to do it a few times more."

"...I will note that, sir." He nodded politely. "He would perhaps delight in not doing as much paper work or he might be tempted to pass it on." He smiled. He shifted his weight. His back was not yet perfect and it would perhaps never be, but at least it allowed him to stand more straight now, and it did not cause constant discomfort when doing so.

"If he tries to pass on too much to you, you tell me. He has a higher rank now, that means he has to do more paperwork. And if he wants to make it a tradition to pass the stuff down, he is welcome to my share!"

Sourette smiled wrily, but seemed to be a bit relieved that his allusion had obviously not been understood.

"You need not worry, capitaine." Saint-Hilaire would not tell on his friend of course, and bear any obligations he would have been given bravely. He owed much to the man, and that made his requests somehow more like a way he may pay him back.

He chuckled softly. "But I will inform him that you would relish in sending your own share to him." He turned to glance in the direction he meant to proceed to find Bastien. Briefly he had thought he saw him, but then when his eye was able to see it better, he realised that it was merely a different officer.

"I am doing my best to return to full... service and usefulness." He promised as his gaze was quickly returned to the officer.

Sourette had began to chuckle, but when Etienne turned his head to see, he abruptly broke off and placed a hand under the junior officers chin, turning his head until he could see the eye well.

Concern in his voice, he asked:

"What's that, Lieutenant? Has somebody been giving you trouble?"

More severly, he added:

"Or are you already engaging in drunken fights again?"

Saint-Hilaire froze momentarily.He had forgotten about the sore bruise or perhaps he had hoped that it would not blossom until he was safely returned to his tent where a wet cloth could be applied to it, to hopefully cool it. He had not reacted when turned for inspection.

He felt almost relieved that he could assure the captain that this was indeed not from a drunken fight. He hesitated. Before he could answer it downed on him.A daft thing he intended to do. If he was to ask lieutenant Prayon to be his second, he was counting on his friend coming out without injury, but even if he was so fortunate, it would be unfair to stress his friend after his own ordeal had been over. A different reason had caused his conviction that Bastien was not the ear he needed on this to grow. He could not reprimind the lieutenant of his foolishness, when he had been no better.

"...I've not taken part in no drunkenness.. nor fights of that nature, capitaine. I may assure you. " The other's words now made more sense too. About Bastien and getting up earlier in the morining. "...May I.. inquire first.. what you have said, of lieutenant Prayon and having been... bothered on his account...can you elaborate on it, please."

The Captain looked a bit startled, but then squared his shoulders and his face closed off.

"I'm sorry, monsieur. I had assumed that ... Please forget what I said. I had no right to mention it."

He looked a bit uncomfortable. He was rather sure that Saint-Hilaire would not get Prayon and him into trouble, but still, it had been a gross carelessness.

Carefully, he added:

"But, if ... if you should find yourself in a situation where you would need a friend, you can be sure that I should not decline you the help I rendered Prayon."

"...If I were... to ask for this... help. Would it remain among us, you and myself, even with the nature of it being..?" He inquired carefully. If he was thus correct then he could trust the captain more than he at first had thought he would. He did not want to be overhasty. The last he wanted was for this to become a mess where they all would be in trouble for it.

He took a step back, to ease the hand from his chin and his bruise from further inspection. "Capitaine..?"

"Would not being officially aware of it in any way endanger this unit or otherwise cause a situation I could not with good consciousness tolerate?", the Captain inquired, leading Saint-Hilaire a few steps away where they could talk more directly.

"It would not endanger this unit...I do not know whether it would cause a situation that you would not tolerate, capitaine... and if luck is ill and not on the my side, it may cause the injury or death of an officer....... but other than that, it causes harm to noone else." He spoke once they were standing at a more private location where he was more sure that nobody could call to ear what they said.

Still his voice had become quieter. "I would perhaps ask.... of the same favour that lieutenant Prayon had asked you before..." He hoped that this would make it clear enough.

The Captain nodded.

"If it is in any way related to your black eye, I certainly will stand by your side. It would be against my consciousness not to. May I ask ... how did this happen?"

"Thank you." Saint-Hilaire first said. He had hesitated for he did not want to draw Bastien into the fray though it was quite clear that if the duel would be on the same day, at nearly the same time even, that it would not escape the captain's notice.

"...I have conversed with a man, a certain officer Jarreau, who had caused ill feeling in my friend and hoped that he might apologise for his actions. I have soon learned that my friend.....Prayon had all right in his upset." He touched the tender flesh".. and in the process of coming to such a realisation I have acquired this.. and offered my own invitation to the settlement of it..."

He waited a few moments to let it all sink. ".....I would ask whether you would be willing to stand as my second..." He wished that the captain would know for certain what this was about, before agreeing to it at final last.

The Captain's eyes opened wide.

"He hit you while you came to settle the details for another affaire d'honneur?"

He sounded quite shocked.

"I will most certainly act for you! I understand that you hardly can ask Prayon for this. Who shall I talk to?"

"I do not know yet.. but I will be informed soon, I believe. I will send him to you should you not know him sooner than myself." He nodded slowly. He knew that he had not been completely innocent at the discussion, but he had not been as much the guilty party as the lieutenant and he had not struck the other man!

"Thank you, capitaine..." He lowered his hand. He studied it quietly. "..if it is possible... I would like it done...and finished with on the same day as lieutenant Prayon. The sooner it is over with...the better."