Sutch did not try to explain. It was as well, he thought, that Feversham never would understand. For he could not understand without much self-reproach.
"Do you ever see Durrance?" asked the general, suddenly.
"Yes, I see a good deal of Durrance. He is abroad just now."
Feversham turned towards his friend.
"He came to Broad Place when you went to Suakin, and talked to me for half an hour. He was Harry's best man. Well, that too I never understood. Did you?"
"Yes, I understood that as well."
"Oh!" said General Feversham. He asked for no explanations, but, as he had always done, he took the questions which he did not understand and put them aside out of his thoughts. But he did not turn to his other letters. He sat smoking his cigar, and looked out across the summer country and listened to the sounds rising distinctly from the fields. Sutch had read through all of his correspondence before Feversham spoke again.
"I have been thinking," he said. "Have you noticed the date of the month, Sutch?" and Sutch looked up quickly.
"Yes," said he, "this day next week will be the anniversary of our attack upon the Redan, and Harry's birthday."
"Exactly," replied Feversham. "Why shouldn't we start the Crimean nights again?"