"If you will do so and will make use of it as I direct," said Lyttleton, "you shall be handsomely paid for your trouble. And may rest assured that I will never betray your secret."
"Vell den, mynheer, I dell you, and I porrows de gloes, and does de work. Karl Hedwig was in de war, an—vat you call it?"
"Yaas, and he's got de soldier gloes."
"Now? Here?"
Hans answered in the affirmative, going on to explain that Hedwig, whom he recognized as an old acquaintance, and his former superior in the army, had begged of him not to divulge the fact that he had served against the Americans: fearing that it would render him unpopular; but doubtless if it could be done without incurring that risk, he would lend his uniform for a consideration.
Lyttleton authorized Hans to hire it for the winter, naming a liberal sum and enjoining secrecy.
"I expect to find use for it one of these days or nights, which is all you need to know at present," he concluded.
Hans promised to attend to the commission promptly, and with due care that none should know of it save Hedwig and himself.
Godfrey Dale ran in to Major Lamar's that morning, directly after breakfast, to say that the young people were getting up a riding party for that afternoon, and to ask Nell if he might be her escort.