10 a.m.
`` Is the old man coming round the trenches ? '' Jackson , the subaltern in whose tender care reposed the crater of Vesuvius and all that appertained thereto , including rum jars , looked up with mild interest . The C.O. glanced at the message beside him . '' ` The G.O.C. wishes to meet the Engineer Officer in charge of Left Section , at Centre Battalion Headquarters , at 10 a.m. , A.A.A. Message ends . ' There in a nutshell you have the glorious news . '' Breakfast is never a loquacious meal , and for a while silence reigned , broken only by a few desultory remarks as to the vileness of the food produced by the officer responsible for the mess catering , and the exorbitant price he demanded for it -- statements which had staled with much vain repetition . `` For heaven 's sake dry up , '' he remarked peevishly .