their helmets in eager haste to get out of the constraint of full dress.  But in another moment Jerrold, too, appeared, all alone, walking rapidly and nervously.  Armitage watched him, and could not but see how other men turned away or gave him the coolest possible nod as he passed.  The tall, slender lieutenant was handsomer even than when he last saw him; and yet there was gloom and worry on the dark beauty of his face.  Nearer and nearer he came, and had passed the quarters of the other officers and was almost at the door of his own, when Armitage saw a little, wiry soldier in full dress uniform running across the parade as though in pursuit.  He recognized Merrick, one of the scapegraces of his company, and wondered why he should be chasing after his temporary commander.  Just as Jerrold was turning under the piazza the soldier seemed to make himself heard, and the lieutenant, with an angry frown on his face, stopped and confronted him.

“I told you not to come to me again,” he said, so loud that every word was audible to the captain standing by the open window above.  “What do you mean, sir, by following me in this way?”

The reply was inaudible.  Armitage could see the little soldier standing in the respectful position of “attention,” looking up and evidently pleading.

“I won’t do it until I’m ready,” was again heard in Jerrold’s angry tones, though this time the lieutenant glanced about, as though to see if others were within earshot.  There was no one, apparently, and he grew more confident.  “You’ve been drinking again to-day, Merrick; you’re not sober now; and I won’t give you money to get maudlin and go to blabbing secrets on.  No, sir!  Go back to your quarters, and stay there.”

The little soldier must indeed have been drinking, as the lieutenant declared.  Armitage saw that he hesitated, instead of obeying at once, and that his flushed face was angrily working, then that he was arguing with his superior and talking louder.  This was contrary to all the captain’s ideas of proper discipline, even though he was indignant at the officer for permitting himself to be placed in so false and undignified a position.  Jerrold’s words, too, had acquired a wide significance; but they were feeble as compared with the sudden outburst that came from the soldier’s lips: 

“By God, lieutenant, you bribed me to silence to cover your tracks, and then you refuse to pay.  If you don’t want me to tell what I know, the sooner you pay that money the better.”

This was more than Armitage could stand.  He went down-stairs three at a jump and out through the colonel’s garden with quick, impetuous steps.  Jerrold’s furious face turned ashen at the sight, and Merrick, with one amazed and frightened look at his captain, faced about and slunk silently away.  To him Armitage paid no further attention.  It was to the officer he addressed himself: 

“Mr. Jerrold, I have heard pretty much all this conversation.  It simply adds to the evil report with which you have managed to surround yourself.  Step into your quarters.  I must see you alone.”