When they are they'll know that no one ever takes me too seriously." "A bad habit for a superior officer, isn't it ?" inquired Benson, looking around at his student guests.

"But Mr.Somers may be taken very seriously indeed---when he's on duty.

He is unreliable at table only." "Unreliable at table ?" echoed Eph, helping himself to a slice of roast meat.

"Why, it seems to me that this is the one place where I can be depended upon to do all that is expected of me." The others now sat back, out of courtesy, looking on and chatting while Ensign Eph Somers ate his meal.

"There may be a few questions---or many---that you would like to ask," suggested Lieutenant Jack Benson.