"Well, did you never appeal to Captain Devers?"
"No, sir; there was no use in doing that," said Brannan, coloring uneasily as he spoke. "I beg Captain Cranston's pardon for saying so of an officer, but no one could hope for justice in 'A' Troop unless he was solid with Sergeant Haney."
"And you have never seen your writing-case to this day?" continued Langston.
"Never, sir."
"Well, one thing more. Now that you know Howard's character,—know him to have deserted and to have striven to injure you in many a way, will you still persist in saying he did not wield the knife that slashed you?"
"I have said, sir, that I knew no one in all the recruits who would have used a knife on me."
"True! You put it well, Brannan," said Langston, with a smile of deep meaning, "and among simple-minded military folk the answer would be enough, perhaps, but not to a lawyer. Would you declare that Howard did not wield the knife that slashed you—but was meant for Lieutenant Davies?"
And Brannan colored still deeper. "I cannot say anything about him, sir; at least not now."
"Very well. Then it is useless to ask just now what you know of his past?"
"Yes, sir."