I told him it wasn't my habit to proceed with cooked documents.

He couldn't but agree with me, but there was that wrathful Oriental with his face as fixed as a Buddha.
'I am sorry, Rasta Bey,' he said; 'but this man is in the right.' 'I have authority from the Committee to receive the stores,' he said sullenly.
'Those are not my instructions,' was the answer.

'They are consigned to the Artillery commandant at Chataldja, General von Oesterzee.' The man shrugged his shoulders.

'Very well.

I will have a word to say to General von Oesterzee, and many to this fellow who flouts the Committee.' And he strode away like an impudent boy.
The harassed commandant grinned.