They will want it at headquarters and my head is quite clear now.

Will you write for me, Mother ?' 'Of course.' There is always a pencil with a memorandum-pad in every private room of a hospital, for the use of the nurse and the doctor.

The Mother Superior took both from the table and sat down close to the bed, and Giovanni dictated what he had to say in a clear and businesslike way that surprised her, great as her experience had been.

When he had finished, he asked her to read it over to him, and pointed out one small correction to be made.
'I think I can sign it with my left hand, if you will hold it up for me,' he said.
His fingers traced his name with the pencil, though very unsteadily, and he begged her to send it to headquarters at once.

There was always some one on duty there, he explained, if it was only the subaltern commanding the guard.