General Campion enters Christopher’s tent. Christopher is technically under arrest for events not yet revealed to the reader, but the General gives him a direct order, countermanding the arrest. Christopher is to prepare his cook houses for inspection. Levin accompanies Christopher. He wants to know what happened the night before to cause Christopher to be arrested. He has to drag it out of Christopher, but he learns that while Christopher was in Sylvia’s room with her, and she was in a stage of undress, Perowne entered. Christopher thought it was the night porter and threw him roughly out of the room. Perowne made a scene, and General O’Hara came to the door, demanding to see Sylvia. Christopher would not allow that and closed the door. O’ Hara claims he didn’t know Sylvia was Christopher’s wife, since she had made eyes at him. O’Hara also claims Christopher punched him.

Christopher and Levin report to General Campion, who is sitting in Christopher’s tent. The General is working on a letter to the Secretary of State for War. The letter is about the single command. He asks Christopher for his opinion. Christopher approves of the letter but warns it could have negative political consequences: The General could be sent home, but that wouldn’t be too bad because he could go into politics.