"You sent for me, sir. Can I do anything for you?"
"For me? No; not likely! But you can do your duty to your country! How is it that you are not on your way to join your regiment?"
"I had actually bidden good-by and left the house to start on my journey, when I met men bringing you home."
"What the demon had that to do with it?"
"I could not go on, sir, and leave you under such circumstances."
"Look here, young sir!" said the Iron King, speaking hoarsely, faintly, yet with strong determination. "Do you call yourself a soldier or a shirk? Let me tell you that it is the first duty of a soldier to obey orders, at all times, under all circumstances, and at all costs! If you had been a married man, and your wife had been dying—if you had been a father, and your child had been dying, it would have been your duty to leave them!"
"But, sir, there was no real need that I should go by this night's express. If I should start to-morrow morning, I shall be in good time to report for duty. It was only my zeal to be better than prompt which induced me to start earlier than necessary. To-morrow will be quite time enough to leave for New York."
"Very well; then go to-morrow by the first train," said the Iron King in a more subdued manner, for the sedative was beginning to take effect.
At a hint from the doctor the young lieutenant bade his grandfather good-night and softly stepped out of the room.