Some days later came the explanation of this strange phrase, and this is what my friend told me.
“About forty years ago I was an instructor in the military academy at Woolwich. I was in one of the sections when young Scoresby passed his examination. Other students answered brightly, while he – dear me, he didn't know anything. He was good, and sweet, and lovable; and so it was painful to see him stand there and give stupid answers. I said to myself, that after the next exam he could be excluded; so it will be an act of charity to help him as much as I can.
I found out that he knew a little of Caesar's history; and he didn't know anything else. I trained him like a slave on questions about Caesar, which I knew would be used in test. If you'll believe me, he passed the exam brilliantly! He even got compliments, while others, who knew a thousand times more than he, were criticized. By some strangely lucky accident – an accident that happens once in a century – he was not asked any other questions except from those he prepared.
Well, during his course I helped him, with the feeling which a mother feels for a crippled child; and he always saved himself – just by miracle.
The exam that would kill him was mathematics. I decided to make his death as easy as I could; so trained him, just on the questions which the examiner would certainly use. Well, sir, try to guess the result: to my horror, he took the first prize!
Sleep! There was no more sleep for me for a week. My conscience tortured me day and night. What have I done! I only wanted to ease the poor youth's fall – I never dreamed of such results. I felt as the creator of Frankenstein. Here was a wooden-head and I give him the chance to make a brilliant career.”
“The Crimean war just started. I waited for the news. It came. And it shocked me. He was a captain now! Better men grow old in the service before they get a rank like that. Who could know that they put such responsibility on his green shoulders! I thought my hair would turn white.
I said to myself that I am responsible for this, and I must go with him and protect the country from him. So I took my poor little capital that I saved up through years of work and economy and bought a place in his regiment.