Arthur held his pipe and flipped through the documents in front of him, the only sound in the spacious office was the rustling of pages being turned.
In the silence, Arthur's hoarse voice broke the stillness.
"Ledley, take off your epaulettes," he said.
Ledley, hearing Arthur summon him, was just about to stand up like a spring when he heard the second half of the sentence; his legs that had just straightened suddenly went weak again.
In a room that was so stiflingly hot, Ledley felt as though he had fallen into an ice hole.
He had thought Arthur had called him over today for some good news, but never in his wildest dreams did he expect such a bolt from the blue.
"I... Sir... Did I hear that wrong?"
Arthur put down the document, looked up, and asked, "What did you hear?"
"I..." Ledley, with an awkward smile and forehead beading with sweat, said, "I heard... you ordering me to take off my epaulettes?"
