When he issued forth from his tent it was to receive the cordial congratulations of his brother officers.  Sergeant Hyde came up, too, a little doubtfully, but McKay seized his hand, saying—­

“You do not grudge me my good luck, I hope, old friend?”

“I, sir?”—­the address was formal, but the tone was full of heartfelt emotion.  “You have no heartier well-wisher than Colour-Sergeant Hyde.  Our relative positions have changed—­”

“Nothing can change them, or me, Hyde.  You have always been my best and staunchest friend.  It is to your advice and teachings that I owe all this.”

“Go on as you have begun, my boy; the road is open before you.  Who knows?  That field-marshal’s baton may have been in your pack after all!”

While they still talked a message was brought to McKay from General Wilders; the brigadier wished to see him at once.

“How is this, Mr. McKay?” said the general.  “So you pretend to be a cousin of mine?  Sir Colin Campbell has told me of his meeting with you, and now I find your name in full in the Gazette.”

“It is no pretence, sir,” replied Stanislas, with dignity.

“What!  You call yourself a Wilders!  By what right?”

“My mother is first cousin to the present Lord Essendine.”

“Through whom?”

“Her father, Anastasius Wilders.”

“I know—­my father’s brother.  Then you belong to the elder branch.  But I never heard that he married.”

“He married Priscilla Coxon in 1805.”

“Privately?”

“I believe not.  But it was much against his father’s wish, and his wife was never recognised by the family.  His widow—­you know my grandfather died early—­married a second time, and thus increased the breach between the families.”

“It’s a strange story.  I don’t know what to think of it.  These statements of yours—­can they be substantiated?”

“Most certainly, sir, by the fullest proof.  Besides, the present Lord Essendine is quite aware of my existence, and has acknowledged my relationship.”

“Never openly:  you must admit that.”

“No, we were simple people; not grand enough, I suppose, for his lordship.  At any rate, we were too proud to be patronised, and preferred to go our own way.”

“I acknowledge you, Mr. McKay, without hesitation, and am proud to own so gallant a young man as my relative.  You have indeed maintained the soldierly reputation of our family.  Shake hands!”

“You are very kind, sir; I hope to continue to deserve your good opinion,” and McKay rose to take his leave.

“Stay, Cousin McKay, I have more to say to you.  What is this Sir Colin tells me about your speaking Russian?”

Stanislas explained.

“It may prove extremely useful; we have not too many interpreters in the army.  I shall write to headquarters and report your qualifications.  Do you speak any other languages?”