“I think we’ve found it, Colonel,” he said, excitedly. “Doctor Delaven, what is in that envelope?”
“Faith, I don’t know, Captain. The fellow didn’t give me time to read it.”
“Give it to me.”
“No, I’ll not,” returned Delaven, moving towards the light.
“And why not?” demanded Masterson, suspiciously.
“Because it’s from a lady, and it’s private.”
He held the envelope to the light, but there was no name or address on it. He tore off the end and in extracting the contents two papers slipped out and fell on the ground. Masterson picked them up and after a glance waved them triumphantly, while Delaven looked puzzled over the slip in his hands. It was only something about military matters,––the furthest thing possible from a billet-doux.
“I thought myself it was the weightiest one ever launched by Cupid,” he remarked as he shook his head over the mystery. But Masterson thrust the papers into McVeigh’s hands.
“Your commission and instructions, Colonel!” he said, jubilantly. “What a run of luck. See if they are all right.”
“Every one of them,” and in a moment the Judge and 345 Masterson were shaking hands with him, while Delaven stood apart and stared. He was glad they were having so much joy to themselves, but could not see why he should be choked to obtain it for them.