"Explained as 'twere all on account o' witchcraft and sorcery damned, sir."
"Then be damned for a fool, Zebedee!" The Sergeant immediately saluted. "Then—er—what did she say?"
"Stared, sir, and cross-examinationed me concerning same, and I dooly explained as you did see a apparation in form of the devil—no, a devil in form of a——" The Major uttered an impatient ejaculation and rode on again. And after they had ridden some distance in silence the Sergeant spoke.
"Begging your pardon, sir, but you're wrong!"
"I think not, Zeb,'" sighed the Major, "'tis for the best."
"But sir, 'tis the wrong way to——"
"On the contrary 'tis the only way, Zeb, the only way to save her pain and vexation. I couldn't bear to see her shrink—er—ha, what a plague are you saying now, in the fiend's name, Sergeant?"
"Why sir, I only—"
"Be silent, Zebedee!"
"Very good, your honour, only this be the wrong way to Inchbourne."