Soyer's Culinary Campaign: Being Historical Reminiscences of the Late War.: With The Plain Art of Cookery for Military and Civil Institutions

Seeing the affair was getting rather serious, I set off at full gallop to stop him, and found him in the office, writing the following lines:-- “Monsieur Soyer has been absent from Balaklava these last three days, and has not been heard of. An answer will oblige.” My unexpected arrival put him in good spirits. I convinced him that I was neither killed, wounded, nor taken prisoner, and having related my adventures, I inquired about business. The first thing he told me was that Miss Nightingale was getting better. This I knew, having made inquiries on board. Then he informed me that Lord Raglan had visited her. This I also knew. Then that Thomas, my head man, had been all over the camp, hunting for me; that the hospital kitchens were all going on well. He next informed me that Dr. Hadley was morally in deep mourning, not so much on account of his pony, or even myself, but his saddle and bridle, which he said no money could replace, it having been made to order in London. I observed that I was worse off than he was, as from his kindness in lending me the pony, I had been so long away. “But, P. M., will you be kind enough to jump on that pony, and go to him. Say I will see him in the afternoon, and of course that I shall be happy to pay for both pony and saddle.” “I will do so; but he told me yesterday that he didn’t care a fig about the pony--it was the saddle he regretted.” “When did he first hear I had lost it?” “Why, not four hours after you left. Mrs. Seacole sent all over the camp for it, and some officers who were present at the time brought the news, at which every one laughed; but I assure you the case was getting very serious at last.” “Never mind--_à la guerre comme à la guerre_--we must expect something a little out of the way in campaigning.” “I tell you what, Monsieur Soyer, I began to think it