"You!" gulped Ross, while amaze and incredulity shot across his startled face.
"You!" exclaimed others of the group, in evident astonishment and dismay. Rayner alone looked unchanged. It was no news to him, while to every other man in the party it was a shock. Up to that instant the prevailing belief had been, with Ross, that Buxton had found some garrison gossip and was building an edifice thereon. His positive statement, however, was too much for the most incredulous.
"Now what have you to say?" he asked, in rude triumph.
There was no answer for a moment; then Ross spoke:
"Of course, Captain Buxton, I withdraw any expression of doubt. It never occurred to me that you could have seen it. May I ask when and how?"
"The last time I was officer of the day, sir; and Captain Rayner is my witness as to the time. Others, whom I need not mention, saw it with me. There is no mistake, sir. The woman was there." And Buxton stood enjoying the effect.
Ross looked white and dazed. He turned slowly away, hesitated, looked back, then exclaimed,—
"You are sure it was—it was not some one that had a right to be there?"
"How could it be?" said Buxton, gruffly. "You know he has not an acquaintance in town, or here, who could be with him there at night."
"Does the commanding officer know of it?" asked Mr. Royce, after a moment's silence.