This produced a smile, and he went on—-

“Look here, Skipjack, we will be fellow-soldiers every way.  My Uncle James can do anything at the Horse Guards, and he shall have us set down for the same regiment.  I’ll tell him you are my good influence.”

“But I’ve been just the other way.”

“Oh, but you will be-—a year or two will show it.  Which shall it be?  Do you go in for cavalry or infantry?  I like cavalry, but he’s all for the other.”

Jock was wearied enough not to have much contribution to make to the conversation, and he thus left Cecil such a fair field as he seldom enjoyed for Uncle James’s Indian and Crimean campaigns, and for the comparative merits of the regiments his nephew had beheld at reviews.

He was interrupted by a message from the guide that there was a cloud in the distance, and the young Herr had better set off quickly unless he wished to be weather-bound.

Johnny was on his feet as soon as there was a step on the stairs, and was congratulated on his ready powers of sleeping.

“It’s in the family,” said Jock.  “His brother Rob went to sleep in the middle of the examination for his commission.”

“Then I should think he could sleep on the rack,” said Cecil.

“I’m sure I wish I could,” rejoined Jock.

“What a sell for the torturers, to get some chloroform!” said John.  And so Cecil departed amid laughter, which gave John little idea how serious the talk had been in his absence.

The rain came on even more rapidly than the guide had foretold, and it was a drenched and dripping object that rode into the court of the tall hotel at Leukerbad, and immediately fell into the hands of Dr. Medlicott and Reeves, who deposited him ignominiously in bed, in spite of all his protestations and murmurs.  However, he had the comfort of hearing that his little fag was recovering from the exhaustion of the journey.  He had at first been so faint that the doctor had watched, fearing that he would never revive again, and he had not yet attempted to speak; but his breathing was certainly already less laboured, and the choking, struggling cough less frequent.  “He really seems likely to have a little natural sleep,” was Lord Fordham’s report somewhat later, on coming in to find Cecil sitting up in bed to discuss a very substantial supper.  “I hope that with Reeves and the doctor to look to him, his mother may get a little rest to-night.”

“Have you seen her?”

“Only for a moment or two, poor thing; but I never did see such eyes or such a wonderful sad smile as she tried to thank us with.  Medlicott is ready to do anything for her husband’s sake; I am sure anyone would do the same for hers.  To get such a look is something to remember!”

“Well done, Duke!” ejaculated Cecil under his breath, for he had never seen his senior so animated or so enthusiastic.  “Then you mean to stay, and let Medlicott look after them?”