And this paragraph told him definitely that fight there was to be. It was his business to know how the Prophet was controlled; and he knew that it was controlled by Molyneux's party, if not by Molyneux himself, and was edited by one of Molyneux's friends. That was enough. On the surface, to those who knew not Molyneux's true identity, the paragraph represented a well-merited—or cowardly, according to their lights—attack on Superintendent Adair by a paper supporting—or, as some knew, virtually controlled by—the politician. But actually, as Hector knew, and Welland knew, but no-one else knew or would know, it was the opening shot in the ex-criminal's campaign of revenge.
On Welland's side, this paragraph told him, the tactics were to be slander, veiled insinuation, deceit cunningly employed in constant endeavour to catch him at a disadvantage and fierce condemnation of any open error in his administration, all tending ultimately to drive Hector out of the Force. On Hector's side, because his hands were tied by his position, he could hope only to match his wits with Welland's whenever an opportunity, real or maliciously created, for an attack by the politician should occur and to frustrate Welland by doing his work so well that there could be no complaint. The stake was, on one hand, personal revenge for what had been, in Welland's eyes, a wrong; on the other, Hector's personal honour and the honour and welfare of his men; the issue, Politics versus Patriotism.
This was the conflict which Hector felt approaching as he read that paragraph in the Prophet.
Remembering the issue, and holding the item as at least a malicious and exaggerated attack on his own men, whom it was his duty to protect, he felt hot resentment boil through him. Then his thought went to the Marquis, who had given the paper—and Welland—this opening, the drunken waster he was to reform. Men like that brought discredit on any corps!
The Marquis was 'for it.' 'It' was 'coming to him.'
II
A few days after the Marquis had been banished to the cells for his misdeeds, Blythe sprang a second surprise on his C.O. Hector came in to change for mess.
"Beg pardon, sir, but—but a girl's waitin' to see you—been here all afternoon."
"A girl?" asked Hector. "What does she want?"
"She wouldn't say, sir."