Miss Van Campen ignored the actual question。 She had to ignore it or leave the room。 She was not ready to leave because she had disliked me for a long time and she was now cashing in。
〃I have known many men to escape the front through self…inflicted wounds。〃
〃That wasn't the question。 I have seen self…inflicted wounds also。 I asked you if you had ever known a man who had tried to disable himself by kicking himself in the scrotum。 Because that is the nearest sensation to jaundice and it is a sensation that I believe few women have ever experienced。 That was why I asked you if you had ever had the jaundice； Miss Van Campen； because……〃 Miss Van Campen left the room。 Later Miss Gage came in。
〃What did you say to Van Campen？ She was furious。〃
〃We were paring sensations。 I was going to suggest that she had never experienced childbirth……〃
〃You're a fool；〃 Gage said。 〃She's after your scalp。〃
〃She has my scalp；〃 I said。 〃She's lost me my leave and she might try and get me court…martialled。 She's mean enough。〃
〃She never liked you；〃 Gage said。 〃What's it about？〃
〃She says I've drunk myself into jaundice so as not to go back to the front。〃
〃Pooh；〃 said Gage。 〃I'll swear you've never taken a drink。 Everybody will swear you've never taken a drink。〃
〃She found the bottles。〃
〃I've told you a hundred times to clear out those bottles。 Where are they now？〃
〃In the armoire。〃
〃Have you a suitcase？〃