Manton in the meantime paced the streets until eight o'clock, then turned his steps towards the recruiting office.
"I wonder what he wants," thought the young man.
Possibly Gilbert guessed he had been in the army before, and wished to question him upon that point.
"Whatever he wants," thought Manton, somewhat wearily, "does not much matter. If he refuses to take me, and manages to find out everything, I can enlist somewhere else."
As the clock struck eight Captain Gilbert, with an air of haste, closed his desk, left the office and came striding along the street.
"Ah!" exclaimed the Captain, catching sight of Manton, "we'll come up here to the left; it's quieter."
He led the way as he spoke towards a deserted side street. It was already almost dark, and the dimmed street lamps had been lit. They had proceeded some distance together in silence, when Gilbert halted suddenly, and laid his hand on Manton's shoulder.
"Treves," he said, "so you had the grit to do it, after all?"
Manton turned and stared in wonderment.
"Do what, sir?" But he suddenly felt his fingers seized in a cordial grip.