“Ah, Mr Darrell!” he said, reining up; “want to see me?”
“Yes, Sir George. I’ve just come from the prisoner’s cell.”
“Well?”
“He promises, Sir George.”
“Indeed? But will he keep his word?”
“Yes, Sir George; I’ll answer for him.”
“You are a foolish, sanguine boy,” said the general, smiling; “but we’ll see.—Come with me.”
He turned the horse’s head and walked him back to the door of his quarters, where he alighted and threw the reins to an orderly. Then, leading the way back to his room, he removed his glove and sat down at the writing-table, where his pen ran rapidly over a sheet of paper.
“There,” he said when he had blotted and folded it; “I am not young and sanguine like you, Mr Darrell, but I am glad to have the opportunity of stopping the degrading exhibition we were about to have; and let me say, too, equally glad to oblige a young officer whose career I have been noticing ever since he joined.”
Dick reddened, and faltered a few words.