Ross made no answer, but went on as if no
one were by:

"Ah, yes; they didn't know that I could be
as cunning as any sneak among them. I can
bear anything but that mean, devilish, shabby
juggling behind a man's back—a mean, cowardly,
disgraceful trick. Getting a poor fellow out
of the way—shipped off. I believe the
fellow got the regiment sent off out of the
country on purpose. He has money, and those
Horse Guards ruffians will take money for
anything!"

"I think you are wrong in that," said the
captain, calmly. "The Duke of York, who was
commander-in-chief in my day, was a true
gentleman, and so was Woodyer, his secretary.
No, no, Mr. Ross, we haven't come to that."

Ross looked at him abruptly.

"Look here," he said, getting up; "listen
to me, now. I beg your pardon for coming in
on you in this way; but I always heard you
were a gentleman, and I believe it. The fact is,
I am worried and miserable, as I always am
when I find mean sneaking scoundrels trying to
beat me. Of course you know all about it—
the lawsuit and everything—of course they
have told you; and that white-faced mewling-
puling creature, Tillotson—I'll expose him.
He had a mean jealousy of me from the first
day he saw me. Look at that," he said,
putting his finger on the scar, now indeed rather
inflamed; "that was his doing—set on me in
the street, in the dark, with a scoundrel.
That was fine and manly and generous; and
out in that place I was stung or scalded there,
and look at the infernal state it is——"

"My goodness!" said the captain, peering at
it, and now a little confused at the circumstantial
nature of this charge.

"What d'ye think of that?" said Ross.
"You are an honourable and a good man—
isn't that enough to embitter life? But never
mind; listen to me, now do, I beg you. Tell
me what's going on. I know nothing—was
at his house on the way, and they told me
he was down in the country. Where is she?
Speak out and tell me everything—do. You will
save some dreadful business happening; for,
by"—swearing—"I never forgave the man
that tried to trick me."

The captain now began to think seriously
that this young man had perhaps been drinking.
He saw, too, that he was in a dangerous mood.

"My dear friend," he said, "I can understand
it all, perfectly; but you must take it
quietly. As for me, you know, I live out of
the world, and am long past that, and hear very
little. Of course, knowing Tillotson, I heard he
was to be married to a fine young creature."

"Ah! that's it," said Ross. "You are
coming to it now. What's the day they have
fixed—come?"

The captain tossed his head.

"I declare I couldn't tell you; you might as
well ask me the calends. The lawyers and the
settlements take time, you know, and won't be
hurried. I suppose next month."

"What!" said Ross, starting. "Do you
tell me that? Why, they wrote to me this
week——"

"I only tell you what I hear," said the
captain, calmly, "and what Tilney, in that chair,
told me; but I may have bungled it."

"Next month?" said Ross, in an agony.
"And I might have waited and come away
regularly. Now I am ruined utterly. No
matter, it shall come out of him."

"Eh—what?" said the captain, eagerly.
"How ruined?"

"How ruined?" said Ross. "I suppose when
a man leaves his regiment without leave, and
goes on board a packet that is just sailing for
Europe—eh?—I suppose that amounts to
something?"

The captain was struck with horror. "Leave
the regiment without the commanding officer's
leave! Why, I'm afraid they'll break you
for it."

"Let 'em—I don't care. I can break some
one else. Let him look out. But, just think,
all for nothing—are you sure?—only think, a life
I was fond of—men that I liked—and all for
this mean sneaking fellow." In this way the
unhappy Ross went on for nearly an hour,
going over the same thing again and again,
threatening and fiercely denouncing, and now
bemoaning himself piteously, and really exciting
the pity of the honest captain. "You see,"
he said, falling in this last mood, "the truth is,
I always liked her and loved her, and no one
else; and she loved me, worshipped the ground
I walked on, until this fellow came with his
money. It is very hard on me. I have no
money, and never had any—never could keep it
if I had; and now I am finished—disgraced
for ever and ever! Think—little better than
a common deserter!"

The captain tried to cheer him and comfort
him. "It will all come right. I am sure these
things can be settled at the Horse Guards.
There was poor Tom Crostwaite, who went off
to Paris for a month, and he was to have been
broke; but his uncle, Lord Mountattic, knew
the Duke, and someway they pulled him
through."

"But I've no Mountattic nor uncle."

"Take my advice," said the captain. "Go
back by the next packet, and join your regiment,
and put the girl out of your head. The less we
have to do with the women, the better. You
know it's natural, the creatures; they'd like to
have a man that has money, and can give them
the comforts they want. Besides, we were told—
wasn't there a fine young girl out there—eh?"

Ross stamped furiously. "That's the point
they make, is it? No matter, I shall see my
way yet, and beat them all with their money
and their tricks. I'll see this Tillotson
tomorrow at his bank, and then you'll see. He's
such a whining sneak, I bet you a guinea,
in a half-hour he gives up. No violence; don't
be afraid. That's always his way; so soft
and gentle. Sugar wouldn't melt in his mouth.
Why, the girl loves me over and over again.