At last Fortune played into my hands. A lieutenant who had been away on long leave rejoined and was sent up to my station. He was a very tall, thin man, very dark, with straight features, large eyebrows and moustache, and Mike had never seen him before. The first night he joined we were talking over our pipes, after dinner, when he mentioned a very swell fancy-dress ball he had been to. At once I asked him in what character he had gone. Of course he replied: "Mephistopheles." Had he brought his dress out with him? Yes, he had it in his kit. Would he do me a very great favour? Why, certainly. Then I told him about my incubus, Mike, and I earnestly requested him to put his dress on the next night and play the devil for Mike's benefit. Of course he was only too delighted to assist, and the plot was duly laid.
That night I went to my quarters. There was Mike, with his usual pleasant remarks and sneer.
I stopped short and said sternly: "You have been smoking."
"Then you have been lighting those beastly sulphur matches."
I walked over to the dressing-table, looked in the glass, then started back, and let out at him.
"Have done with your fooling tricks. How dare you grin over my shoulder like that?"
"If it was not you it must have been the devil then," I said sternly. "And I don't wonder at it, when such a cross-grained ugly beggar as you sits in my quarters alone at this time of night. Take care, Mike," I said impressively; "take care. Remember what Father de Rohan told you. If you will eat meat on Friday, and will quarrel and insult everyone, the devil will be after you in earnest.
"What's that?" I cried, looking hard past him. "Get out of this, Mike; the company you keep here when I'm out is not safe for a Christian man."
He turned very white, was evidently very uncomfortable, crossed himself over and over again, and bolted.
Next morning he brought two sticks, when he came to my room, which he crossed on the fire hearth, and when he turned up at night-time he had evidently been to the canteen, for he was pot-valiant and I could see he had a bottle with him.
"I suppose you will be afraid to stay in the rooms alone," I said, as I left for dinner.
"I will not," said he; but I saw the blue funk rising in him. It was a Friday.