Armitage stood and watched him a moment.  Then he slowly spoke: 

“I have no desire to allude to the subject of your conversation with Merrick.  It was to put an end to such a thing—­not to avail myself of any information it might give—­that I hurried in.  We will put that aside and go at once to the matter that brings me back.  You are aware, of course, that your conduct has compromised a woman’s name, and that the garrison is talking of nothing else.”

Jerrold grasped the back of a chair with one slender brown hand, and looked furtively about as though for some hope of escape.  Something like a startled gulp seemed to work his throat-muscles an instant; then he stammered his reply: 

“I don’t know what you mean.”

“You do know what I mean.  Captain Chester has already told you.”

“Captain Chester came in here and made an unauthorized inspection of my quarters because he heard a shot fired by a sentry.  I was out:  I don’t deny that.  But he proceeded to say all manner of insulting and unwarrantable things, and tried to force me to hand in a resignation, simply because I was out of quarters after taps.  I could account for his doing something so idiotic, but I’m at a loss to comprehend your taking it up.”

“The most serious allegation ever made against an officer of the regiment is made against you, the senior lieutenant of my company, and the evidence furnished me by the colonel and by Captain Chester is of such a character that, unless you can refute it and clear her name, you will have a settlement with me to start with, and your dismissal from the regiment—­”

“Settlement with you?  What concern have you in the matter?” interrupted Jerrold.

“Waste no words on that, Mr. Jerrold.  Understand that where her name is concerned no man on earth is more interested than I. Now answer me.  You were absent from your quarters for some hours after the doctor’s party.  Somebody believed to have been you was seen and fired at for refusing to halt at the order of Captain Chester at 3.30 in the morning.  The ladder that usually hung at your fence was found at the colonel’s while you were out, and that night a woman’s name was compromised beyond repair unless you can repair it.  Unless you prove beyond peradventure where you were both that night and last night,—­prove beyond question that you were not where you are believed to have been,—­her name is stained and yours blackened forever.  There are other things you must fully explain; but these first.”

Jerrold’s face was growing gray and sickly.  He stared at the stern eyes before him, and could make no answer.  His lips moved dryly, but made no sound.

“Come, I want to hear from you.  Where were you, if not with, or seeking, her?  Name your place and witnesses.”

“By God, Captain Armitage, the army is no longer a place for a gentleman, if his every movement is to be spied upon like this!”