of such a catastrophe as now appeared engulfing the fair fame of his regiment and the honor of those whom his colonel held dear, Chester could feel only dismay and grief.  What was his duty in the light of the discoveries he had made?  To the best of his belief, he was the only man in the garrison who had evidence of Jerrold’s absence from his own quarters and of the presence of some one at her window.  He had taken prompt measures to prevent its being suspected by others.  He purposely sent his guards to search along the cliff in the opposite direction while he went to Jerrold’s room and thence back to remove the tell-tale ladder.  Should he tell any one until he had confronted Jerrold with the evidences of his guilt, and, wringing from him his resignation, send him far from the post before handing it in?  Time and again he wished Frank Armitage were here.  The youngest captain in the regiment, Armitage had been for years its adjutant and deep in the confidence of Colonel Maynard.  He was a thorough soldier, a strong, self-reliant, courageous man, and one for whom Chester had ever felt a warm esteem.  Armitage was on leave of absence, however,—­had been away some time on account of family matters, and would not return, it was known, until he had effected the removal of his mother and sister to the new home he had purchased for them in the distant East.  It was to his company that Jerrold had been promoted, and there was friction from the very week that the handsome subaltern joined.

Armitage had long before “taken his measure,” and was in no wise pleased that so lukewarm a soldier should have come to him as senior subaltern.  They had a very plain talk, for Armitage was straightforward as a dart, and then, as Jerrold showed occasional lapses, the captain shut down on some of his most cherished privileges, and, to the indignation of society, the failure of Mr. Jerrold to appear at one or two gatherings where he was confidently expected was speedily laid at his captain’s door.  The recent death of his father kept Armitage from appearing in public, and, as neither he nor the major (who commanded the regiment while Maynard was abroad) vouchsafed the faintest explanation, society was allowed to form its own conclusions, and did,—­to the effect that Mr. Jerrold was a wronged and persecuted man.  It was just as the Maynards arrived at Sibley that Armitage departed on his leave, and, to his unspeakable bliss, Mr. Jerrold succeeded to the command of his company.  This fact, coupled with the charming relations which were straightway established with the colonel’s family, placed him in a position of independence and gave him opportunities he had never known before.  It was speedily evident that he was neglecting his military duties,—­that Company B was running down much faster than Armitage had built it up,—­and yet no man felt like speaking of it to the colonel, who saw it only occasionally on dress-parade.  Chester had just about determined