“But I’ve not been!” said West.
“No; I’ve done the scoundrel ten times the mischief that you have, for I disliked him from the very first day we met. He was too oily for me, and I always thought that he would turn out a bad one. I’m the culprit, but he means to let me alone and to take all the change out of you! That’s all—only don’t give him a chance!”
“Not I; but we shall not see much more of him, I suppose.”
“What? There’ll be a trial in a day or two, and I’ve got a pill for my gentleman.”
“What do you mean—not a lead pill?”
“Tchah! Nonsense. I mean to ask for the scoundrel’s wagon to be searched. I was afraid they would let him go back to it.”
“The wagon? Of course,” said West thoughtfully. “I had forgotten that.”
The young men’s eyes met as if they were trying to read each other’s thoughts; but no more was said then, and the next morning West and Ingleborough were summoned to the General’s wagon.
“Good morning,” said the officer sharply. “Your despatches are, of course, very important, and it is urgent that they should be delivered at once?”
“Yes, sir,” said West eagerly. “Then we may go on at once?”