Read "Memoirs of the Foreign Legion" by Maurice Magnus online for free on Textopian. Full text with search, annotations, highlights, and AI-powered reading aids.
ON my return to barracks I found the corporal of our squad leaving. He had enlisted for five years, his time had been up some weeks before, and he had not been discharged. In spite of his appeals and reclamations he had received no hearing, and no attention whatever had been paid to him. His method of further procedure was simple and effective. He did not go to the exercises, and did not plead illness or any other excuse. He had asked repeatedly to see the Captain, which request was refused him, or rather the answer given amounted to the same thing: the Captain could not see him then, but at the same time made no future appointment. He was punished with prison for not appearing at the exercises, but in prison he continued to refuse to do the exercises or anything else he was ordered to do. The matter was reported to the Captain, who commanded him to his presence.
"Why do you refuse to do exercises? Are you ill or what is the matter?"