“Haven’t you, indeed, Barney?” laughed the captain, who, in spite of his present happy manner, was evidently as much puzzled as the other party.
“’Pon my word, I haven’t.”
“Do you mean to say you are not Barney Marvel, formerly a lieutenant in the Third Tennessee?”
“Not if I know it.”
“I suppose I understood your position, Barney; but I advise you not to deny facts.”
“I never deny facts, captain; you haven’t told me your name yet.”
“No need of that. Now, be honest, Barney. Tell us all about it. There wasn’t an officer in the regiment that didn’t mourn you as a brother when you left us.”
“I’m very much obliged to them,” replied De Banyan lightly; but even Somers began to have some doubts in regard to his popular friend.
“How are Magenta, Solferino, and the Crimea, now-a-days?” demanded the officer.
“Never heard of such places. Don’t know much about geography,” answered the captain.