The land of Nod

“Perhaps some day somebody will give us a budget of Kitchener stories from the War Office. So far we have only had the tale of how when he went there he asked the porter, ‘Have you a bed here ?’ ‘No,’ was the answer. ‘Then get one,’ he ordered.” —(“Daily Chronicle,” 27.4.15.)

What did they sleep on before Kitchener went there ?