“It is all system, my lord, and I have reason, I think, to be proud of ours—­that and an excellent regimental staff.  I have a capital quartermaster and a first-rate adjutant.”

“I should like to see them,” said Lord Raglan.

McKay and Hyde were brought forward and presented to the Commander-in-Chief.

“Mr. McKay, I know your name.  You behaved admirably at Inkerman.  I have just had a letter, too, about you from England.”

“About me, my lord?” said Stanislas, astonished.

“Yes, from Lord Essendine, your cousin.  And, to oblige him, no less than on your own account, I must renew my offer of an appointment on the headquarter staff.”

McKay looked at the colonel and shook his head.

“You are very good, my lord, but I prefer to stay with my regiment.”

“Colonel Blythe, you really must spare him to me,” said Lord Raglan.  “We want him, and more of his stamp.”

“Your wishes are law, my lord.  I should prefer to keep Mr. McKay, but I will not stand in his way if he desires to go.  I shall not miss him so much now that everything is in good working order.”

McKay was disposed still to protest, but Lord Raglan cut him short by saying—­

“Come over to headquarters to-morrow, and report yourself to General Airey.  As for you, my fine fellow,” Lord Raglan went on, turning to Hyde, “you are still a non-commissioned officer, I see.”

“Yes, my lord, I am only acting-quartermaster.”

“Well, I shall recommend you for a commission at once.”

“I do not want promotion, my lord,” replied Hyde.

“He has refused it several times,” added Blythe.

“That’s all nonsense!  He must take it; it’s for the good of the service.  I shall send forward your name,” and, so saying, Lord Raglan rode off.

Stanislas took up his duties at headquarters next day.  He was attached to the quartermaster-general’s department, and was at once closely examined as to his capabilities and qualifications by his new chief, General Airey, a man of extraordinarily quick perception, and a shrewd judge of character.

“You speak French?  Fluently?  Let’s see,” and the general changed the conversation to that language.  “That’s all right.  What else?  Italian?  German?  Russian?—­”

“Yes, sir, Russian.”

“You ought to be very useful to us.  But you will have to work hard, Mr. McKay, very hard.  There are no drones here.”

McKay soon found that out.  From daybreak to midnight everyone at headquarters slaved incessantly.  Horses stood ready saddled in the stables, and officers came and went at all hours.  Men needed to possess iron constitution and indomitable energy to meet the demands upon their strength.

“Lord Raglan wants somebody to go at once to Kamiesch,” said General Airey, coming out one morning to the room in which his staff-assistants worked and waited for special instructions.  There was no one there but McKay, and he had that instant returned from Balaclava.  “Have you been out this morning, Mr. McKay?  Yes?  Well, it can’t be helped; you must go again.”