It was too much for Gaspard.

"Coward!" he shrieked.

Jacques, who had been just going to say the same thing, hastily
substituted "Serpent!"

"I know you," cried Gaspard. "You send your instructor up in your
place. Poltroon!"

Jacques picked up his glass and poured the wine of the country over
his friend's head.

"Drown, serpent," he said magnificently. He beckoned to the waiter.
"Another bottle," he said. "My friend has drunk all this."

Gaspard removed the wine from his whiskers with Jacques' paper and
leant over him.

"This must be wiped out in blood," he said slowly. "Name your
weapons."

"Submarines," said Jacques after a moment's thought.

A.A.M.

* * * * *

THE SWANS OF YPRES.