"At least our strictness keeps us from such disgraceful scenes as some of the other regiments have shown up of late," answered Fairlie between his teeth.
"Ah! well, perhaps so; still, strictness ain't pleasant, you know, when one's the victim."
"Certainly not."
"And, therefore, we should never be hard upon others."
"I perfectly agree with you."
"There's a good fellow. Well, I must be off; I've no time for philosophizing. Good-bye, Colonel."
"Good-bye—a safe journey."
But I noticed that he held the dog's collar in one hand and the gun in the other, so as to have an excuse for not offering that poignée de main which ought to be as sure a type of friendship, and as safe a guarantee for good faith, as the Bedouin Arab's salt.
Belle nodded him a farewell, and lounged down the steps and into the carriage, just as Fairlie's man brought his mare round.
Fairlie turned on to me with unusual fierceness, for generally he was very calm, and gentle, and impassive in manner.