"Not only that, but Captain Hull handed me the money-packet with the others,—took them all from his saddle-bags just before the charge. The packet was sealed when he gave it to me, and when I broke the seal it was stuffed with worthless blanks."
"And you have never suspected a soldier,—a single messenger or servant?"
"Not one. Whom could I?"
"Hayne, had you any knowledge of this man Clancy before?"
"Clancy! The drunken fellow we pulled out of the fire?"
"The same."
"No; never to my knowledge saw or heard of him, except when he appeared as witness at the court."
"Yet he was with the ——th Cavalry at that very fight at Battle Butte. He was a sergeant then, though not in Hull's troop."
"Does he say he knew me? or does he talk of that affair?" asked the lieutenant, with sudden interest.
"Not that. He cannot be said to say anything; but he was wonderfully affected over your rescuing him,—strangely so, one of the nurses persists in telling me, though the steward and Mrs. Clancy declare it was just drink and excitement. Still, I have drawn from him that he knew you well by sight during that campaign; but he says he was not by when Hull was killed."