“Quite so; and I am his first cousin once removed.”

“Ah! that is very nice for you,” said old Hyde, with a tinge of contempt in his tone.  “They’re not much use to you though, these fine relations.  Surely Lord Essendine could have got you a commission by holding up his hand?”

“That’s just what he would not do, and why I hate him and the whole of the Wilders family.  Lord Essendine has never recognised us.”

“Why?  Is there any reason?”

“The Honourable Anastasius made a poor match, married against his father’s wish, and was cut off with a shilling.  His brother, the next earl, was disposed to make it up, but my grandfather died, and my grandmother married again—­an honest sea-captain—­and the noble peer cut her dead.”

“And so you joined the Royal Picts.  But I wonder you came to this regiment to serve with your cousin.”

“I enlisted, you know, a couple of years before he was gazetted to the corps.”

“Do they know you took the shilling?—­that you are now a colour-sergeant in the Royal Picts?”

“I don’t think they are aware of my existence even.”

“Well, never mind.  Don’t be cast down.  The time may come when they will be proud to recognise you.  It all depends upon yourself?”

“I will do all I know to force them, you may be sure.”

“And you will have your chance, in a great war like this which is coming.  Everything is possible to a man whose heart is in the right place.  You have pluck and spirit.”

The young fellow’s eyes flashed.

“Trust me, Hyde; I sha’n’t flinch, if I only get the chance.”

“You are well educated; you can draw; you have picked up Spanish since you have been here; and I suppose you inherit a taste for languages from your Polish father?”

“I don’t know; at any rate, I can talk French fluently, and I speak Russian of course.”

“Why, man! the game is positively in your own hands.  You are bound to get on:  mark my words.”

“Not if we stay here, Hyde, keeping guard upon this old Rock and losing all the fun.  Can you wonder why I am so anxious the regiment should get the route?”

“It will come, never fear.  They will want every soldier that carries a musket before this war is over, or I’m a much-mistaken man.  Only have patience.”

“How can I?  I am eating my heart out, Hyde.”

“Was it to tell me this you came down here?  What brings you to Waterport this morning?  Only to gossip with me?”

“That, and something more.  I am on duty, detailed as orderly sergeant to one of the Expeditionary Generals; he is just going to land from a yacht in the bay.”

“Do you know his name?”

“Yes, Wilders—­another of my fine cousins.  You can understand now why I am so bitter against my relations to-day:  there are too many of them about.”

“I suppose that is what’s brought our Mr. Wilders here to-day—­to meet his cousin.”