'Good heavens, do you say so!'
'Why, the fellow's a regular leg!' said Fotheringhame; but Falconer contented himself by saying:
'Your promised revenge will never come. Next time he asks you to play, decline, and say you do so by my advice—mine—don't forget.'
Acharn did so, and the fact did not increase Master Hew's goodwill to Falconer; but little indeed could the latter guess how the good old general had been led to view him.
A favourite with the entire regiment he was known to be, even to the very school-children; thus it was with some surprise the commanding-officer, some days after, heard the remarks of the general at the club, made privately to himself, however.
'I have to thank you, Sir Piers,' said the lieutenant-colonel, 'for extending the hospitality of your house to one of the best of my officers.'
'Best—the smartest, perhaps you mean?' said Sir Piers, coldly.
'Smartest and best!' replied the lieutenant-colonel, emphatically.
'Sorry to hear it, sir; sorry to hear it. When we were cantonned at Jodpore——'
'Excuse me, Sir Piers; but I do not understand.'