The waiter bowed and disappeared; but soon came back and ushered in Dick.
There was a start of surprise from Dick at seeing Mr. Tredegar, and then a grave hand-shaking between them.
“Well, my boy, I suppose you have heard matters are not so bad as we feared?” said the General, turning to Dick.
“Yes, sir; thank Heaven. Can I see Alexander?”
“Why, I have not seen him myself yet, except at a distance and covered up in swaddling bands. Tredegar here turned me out of the room before I could get near the bedside.”
“Invited you out; brought you here, General,” said Francis, deprecatingly.
“It amounts to the same thing, my dear fellow,” said the General, good-humoredly. “Tredegar was Alexander’s second in this mad affair,” he added, turning to Dick.
“So I supposed on seeing him here,” answered Mr. Hammond.
“Gentlemen,” said Francis Tredegar, “if you will excuse me for a moment, I will go in and see my patient, and then come back and let you know whether you also can see him with safety.”
“Go, Francis,” said the General, waving his hand.