The stranger advanced and placed a hand on Ted’s shoulder. His face was no longer stern and forbidding; it was the face of a great and good man.
“My lad,” he said kindly, “let this be the last time you disobey your senior officer. On this occasion you were right No gentleman, no Christian, could have obeyed his brutal order. But such a case rarely happens, and you must beware lest you take too much upon yourself.”
Ted bowed his head. He knew already that he was in the presence of the greatest and noblest man he had ever seen.
The stranger continued:
“I see you are with the Sirmur Battalion. I have heard of their glorious deeds.”
Ted, full of the subject, and more at his ease now, poured forth for five minutes an account of the valour displayed by Rifles, Guides, and Gurkhas, then stopped, ashamed at having spoken so much. But, moved thereto by the kind expression of interest in the man’s face, he added:
“When are we to make the assault, sir?”
The stranger’s countenance lighted up.
“It will not be very long now, lad; the time is at hand. Well, I have much to do; good-bye, ensign!”
The man held out his hand, adding, “Remain a true, God-fearing gentleman, of whom your country may be proud, as it is not of that man who has just left us.”