"A surprise all around, then," he said, with a boyish laugh. "I was astonished to find Miss Mellen here, and you must have been equally astonished to find me. If only Captain Frazer would appear, our old quartette would be complete."
"I am afraid we must get on without him," she said lightly.
"Unfortunately, yes. I wonder where he is."
"In Cape Town," she replied unexpectedly.
"Really? What is he doing there?"
"Don't expect me to tell. It has something to do with a staff; but whether he carries it, or becudgels recruits with it, I have no idea at all."
"He hasn't left the Scottish Horse?"
"In fact; but not in name. Your regiment is still in the Transvaal; but he keeps a sort of vicarious connection with it. Please don't expect me to grasp military details, Mr. Weldon. I merely repeat the facts, parrot fashion; you must interpret them to suit yourself."
He laughed again. Already, in that one morning, he appeared to have taken a long stride towards the regaining of his old self.
"You are a perfect gazette, Miss Dent, the first bit of news that has crept inside this place. Where did you get all your information?"