‘Corporal! ‘called the General, ‘find Major de Blacquaire, give him General Boswell’s compliments, and ask him to receive me.’
The corporal saluted and went his way, a bewildered man, for it had never before fallen to his lot to find a raw recruit in the enjoyment of a General’s friendship. There was a mystery here, and it kept the regiment in talk for a little while until the interest in it died out; but it made Polson a man of mark from the first. The corporal was back in a minute with a salute to say that Major de Blacquaire was in his own apartment, and would be proud to see General Boswell at once, so the General sent off Polson to Irene and made his way to De Blacquaire’s quarters, piloted by the corporal. De Blaequaire received General Boswell with a show of profound respect.
‘I am here,’ began the General, plunging into business at once after his own soldierly fashion, ‘I am here on an uncommonly unpleasant business. You are the proprietor of a salt mine. You may not be aware that I have invested the greater part of my fortune in the hands of your neighbours, Messrs. Jervase & Jervoyce.’
‘I was not aware of that, sir,’ said De Blaequaire, ‘and I am very sorry to hear it. The men, to my certain knowledge, are a brace of thieves.’
‘I heard a very startling piece of news last night,’ the General continued. ‘I heard that your solicitor, Mr. Stubbs I believe, has made a charge against my partners of having robbed you and the former proprietor of the mine, my lamented old friend General Airey, through a whole course of years.’
‘That is undoubtedly true,’ De Blacquaire answered. ‘I have evidence that a passage exists between their mine and my own, and all the evidence points to the belief that it was purposely made. Their property, I learn, was a miserable failure for many years, and it has now for years yielded them a large income.’
‘My share of that income,’ said the General, ‘has amounted to something like fifteen hundred pounds a year for seven years past, and I need not tell you that it will be my immediate business, so soon as I can realise the money, to repay you—on distinct proof, of course, of the felonious action of my partners.’
‘I really do not see, General Boswell,’ said De Blacquaire, ‘that there is any call upon you to sacrifice yourself for their benefit. The men are wealthy, and I have no doubt that I can force them to disgorge.’
‘It will be my own hope and aim to do that also,’ the General answered. ‘But I have no wish for money which has been dishonourably acquired, and I am very much afraid that I have been living at your cost. It is my obvious duty to return to you whatever has come into my possession, provided always that the facts are assured. I have my remedy against my partners in the law courts, and if necessary I must seek it there.’
‘I shall not venture,’ said De Blacquaire, ‘to dispute a point of personal honour with General Boswell; but I venture to suggest that the better course would be for us, as the injured parties, to join forces against Messrs. Jervase & Jervoyce, and discuss the partition of the spoils when we have secured them. They are thoroughly solvent; I know that, for I have made inquiries; and they are well worth powder and shot. Until the case is heard, or until they themselves come to heel of their own free will, I cannot in honesty receive anything from you.