‘Is it the commandant de place himself who is at the head?’ exclaimed Serasin, in amazement, such a thought being a direct shock to all his ideas of military discipline.
‘Yes, sir,’ said the officer; ‘the soldier knows his appearance well, and can vouch for its being him.’
‘As I know something of him, general,’ said I, ‘I may as well mention that nothing is more likely.’
‘Who is he—what is he?’ asked Serasin hastily.
A very brief account—I need not say not a nattering one—told all that I knew or had ever heard of our worthy town-major—many of the officers around corroborating, as I went on, all that I said, and interpolating little details of their own about his robberies and exactions.
‘And yet I have heard nothing of all this before,’ said the general, looking sternly around him on every side.
None ventured on a reply; and what might have followed there is no guessing, when the sharp rattle of musketry cut short all discussion.
‘That fire was not given by soldiers,’ said Serasin. ‘Go, Tiernay, and bring this fellow before me at once.’
I bowed, and was leaving the room, when an officer, having whispered a few words in Serasin’s ear, the general called me back, saying—
‘You are not to incur any risk, Tiernay; I want no struggle, still less a rescue. You understand me?’