"How, sir," he asked, "how, sir? Explain to me, pray."
"Zounds, man! it is very simple. A letter of recommendation to the officer commanding any regiment now under orders for the seat of war, a few pounds in your pocket to pay your way till under canvas or before the enemy, are all that is necessary."
"Thanks to a dear friend, I have money enough and to spare; but the letter——"
"We have too many volunteers already with both battalions of the Scots Brigade," said Warriston, reflectively.
"But you can give him a letter to our commanding officer," interposed Monkton.
"Why not give him one yourself, Dick?"
"Old Middleton would never believe in any person who was warmly recommended for the first vacant commission by such a fellow as I."
"Egad, you are perhaps right," said Warriston, laughing; "get me ink and paper, Pimple——"
"Boyle," said the ensign, sullenly.
"Beg pardon, Boyle, I mean—thanks. Here goes for all the virtues that were ever recorded on a rich man's tombstone." With great readiness Captain Warriston wrote a letter of introduction and recommendation for Quentin to the officer commanding the 25th Foot, in which he gave him as many good qualities as the sheet of paper could contain, and wrote of him as warmly as if he had known him from boyhood. It was unanimously approved of by all present—by none more than Quentin himself, and after it was duly scaled, he pocketed it as carefully as ever Gil Blas did his patent of nobility.