Roland found him at his room, gloomy, and with his lips quivering, and quickly divined the cause.
"You feel sorry for him. That is natural. I felt like a murderer when I arrested him, because I knew from his actions that he was a spy and I felt sure that I was leading him to his death. But you must remember that he was doing things which will bring more misery on us than his death could ever atone for. It was my duty and your duty, to bring him to justice."
An orderly appeared and explained that the boys were wanted at headquarters. They went at once, and Roland accompanied them.
The General came forward as they entered. "I must thank you in behalf of the King, for the great service you have rendered," he said, as he took Alfred and Ralph by the hand.
Alfred plainly showed his emotion, and Ralph and Roland turned away for a moment to tell the General how the boy felt.
The arms of the strong man went about the boy, and he said: "It is no discredit to you to feel that way. And now where are your uniforms?" he added.
"Oh! we are going to get them now. We were waiting for Roland," said Ralph.
The General smiled, as he said: "You mean the Lieutenant."
Ralph looked down abashed for a moment, and then slyly corrected himself, while Roland apologized. But the General needed no one to smooth down that little wrinkle; he also had boys, and he knew that these little informalities did not show want of respect.