“What? About Fletcher?”
“Yea You’d no right to drag his refusal into the affair!” Paterson dropped the tell-tale accent as he spoke more slowly. “That’s between him and Miss Woodburn, and he wouldn’t thank you if he knew, nor would she. It was perhaps very satisfying to you, but they don’t need to be defended from a fellow like our friend yonder.”
“I’m very sorry—I’m a fool! I was so angry I didn’t stop to think. Bah! he leaves a bad taste in the mouth, that fellow!”
“We should have passed him without taking any notice,” Paterson went on. “But it served him right!”
For the future Tynan gave his conqueror a wide berth, and Ted ignored his existence as far as their respective duties, would permit.
Returning from the officers’ mess that evening, Ted was accosted by Pir Baksh, the Mohammedan captain.
“I saw you fight with Ensign Tynan,” said he. “He is the kind of officer to ruin a regiment. Once he dared to call me a soor (pig) before my men, and I thank you, sahib, for teaching him a lesson.”