“The granary is burned, sir,” he replied.
“Burned!” volleyed Captain Howard. “Who burned it? Was this negligence?” he demanded, sternly.
Mervyn had a sudden monition that Jerrold and Innis were secretly commenting on the fact which he, himself, was now contemplating with stunned amazement, that Raymond had not made the most of his opportunity to decry the captain-lieutenant with a very valid cause.
“Raymond should have told you,” he began.
“Raymond has been busy.” Captain Howard nodded his head succinctly.
“I thought he came here expressly for information about the fire.”
“I am not asking you why Ensign Raymond did not give me the information he was sent to gather. I happen myself to know why. I ask you how that granary came to be burned?”
“The lightning, sir,” said Mervyn, greatly offended by the tone of his superior officer.
“And was it a total loss?” asked Captain Howard.
“A total loss, sir.”