Chapter Forty.
Jerry lets out the Cat.
That night, after the mess dinner, Jerry, when seeing about the coffee for his master, had a note given to him to take into the room, and this he handed to the lieutenant, who flushed a little as he recognised the hand, and, disregarding the smiles of those nearest to him, he read, hastily written:—
“Pray come at once! Aunt and I were out driving, and we found poor Smithson. We brought him here. He is wounded, and dying. I know no more.”
“Anna.”
The lieutenant sprang up excitedly, and strode to the colonel’s side, giving him the note to read.
“Poor boy!” cried the colonel. “Then he did not desert. I’m glad of that. Doctor, Smithson is found. He is, it seems, badly hurt.”
“Bless my soul!” cried the doctor.
“Yes. Will you go on with Lacey at once, and—My good fellow, are you mad?”