Frank flushed with pleasure to find how warmly his father’s name was received; and the colonel went on:
“Don’t you trouble your head about being under arrest, boy. The Prince was obliged to have you marched off. It wouldn’t do for him to have every young spark drawing and getting up a fight in the Palace. By the way, what was the quarrel about? You struck young Forbes?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Well, of course he would draw upon you; but how came you to strike him?”
The boy hesitated; but the colonel’s keen eyes were fixed upon him so steadfastly, that he felt that he must speak and clear himself of the suspicion of being a mere quarrelsome schoolboy, and he said firmly:
“He said insulting things about my father, sir.” There was a chorus of approval at this; and as soon as there was silence, the colonel looked smilingly round the table:
“I think we might forgive this desperate young culprit for committing that heinous offence, gentlemen. What do you say?”
There was a merry laugh at this; and the colonel turned to the lad.
“We all forgive you, Mr Gowan. It is unanimous. Now, I think we are a little hard upon you; so pray go on with your dinner.”
“I don’t think his arrest will last long, sir,” said Captain Murray, after a while.