Rayner said nothing.  His eyes were troubled and anxious, and he looked after Hayne with an expression far more wearied than vindictive.

“The major is fond of music, captain,” said Mr. Ross, with mischievous intent.  “He hasn’t been to the club since the night you sang ’Eileen Alanna.’  That was about the time Hayne’s piano came.”

“Yes,” put in Foster, “Mrs. Waldron says he goes and owls Hayne now night after night just to hear him play.”

“It would be well for him, then, if he kept a better guard on Mr. Hayne’s other visitors,” said Buxton, with a black scowl.  “I don’t know how you gentlemen in the Riflers look upon such matters, but in the ——­th the man who dared to introduce a woman of the town into his quarters would be kicked out in short order.”

“You don’t mean to say that anybody accuses Hayne of that, do you?” asked Ross, in amaze.

“I do,—­just that.  Only, I say this to you, it has but just come to light, and only one or two know it.  To prove it positively he’s got to be allowed more rope; for he got her out of the way last time before we could clinch the matter.  If he suspects it is known he won’t repeat it; if kept to ourselves he will probably try it again,—­and be caught.  Now I charge you all to regard this as confidential.”

“But, Captain Buxton,” said Ross, “this is so serious a matter that I don’t like to believe it.  Who can prove such a story?”

“Of course not, Mr. Ross.  You are quite ready to treat a man as a thief, but can’t believe he’ll do another thing that is disreputable.  That is characteristic of your style of reasoning,” said Buxton, with biting sarcasm.

“You can’t wither me with contempt, Captain Buxton.  I have a right to my opinion, and I have known Mr. Hayne for years, and if I did believe him guilty of one crime five years ago I’m not so ready to believe him guilty of another now.  This isn’t—­isn’t like Hayne.”

“No, of course not, as I said before.  Now, will you tell me, Mr. Ross, just why Mr. Hayne chose that ramshackle old shanty out there on the prairie, all by himself, unless it was to be where he could have his chosen companions with him at night and no one be the wiser?”

“I don’t pretend to fathom his motives, sir; but I don’t believe it was for any such purpose as you seem to think.”

“In other words, you think I’m circulating baseless scandal, do you?”

“I have said nothing of the kind; and I protest against your putting words into my mouth I never used.”

“You intimated as much, anyhow, and you plainly don’t believe it.”

“Well, I don’t believe—­that is, I don’t see how it could happen.”

“Couldn’t the woman drive out from town after dark, send the carriage back, and have it call for her again in the morning?” asked Buxton.

“Possibly.  Still, it isn’t a proved fact that a woman spent the night at Hayne’s, even if a carriage was seen coming out.  You’ve got hold of some Sudsville gossip, probably,” replied Ross.