“He is in a good temper,” he muttered with relief, and quietly he awaited the summons that he knew must come.
It came presently. “Sergeant Major!... Oh, Sergeant Major!” came the thin, high, cultured voice. “Has Sergeant Benton reported in yet from Elbow Vale?”
The gruff official holding that rank and who was familiar to most members of the Division as “Mickey,” saluted and replied in the affirmative.
“Send him in!” came the order, and shortly Ellis found himself standing at “attention,” facing his seated superior.
“That will do, Sergeant Major!... Kindly close the door,” and they were alone.
There was silence for a moment or two, during which the O.C. rummaged amongst some letters on his desk. He found the one he wanted and scrutinized it carefully. “Sergeant Benton,” he began, with a sudden snap in his tones and a quick upward glance that strung that individual up to tense expectancy, “I have here a letter—an anonymous letter—accusing you-of-grossly and maliciously-assaulting a well known and respected citizen of Elbow Vale on the night of the twelfth instance.... Motive unknown—all names—with the exception of your own—omitted. Said assault of such severe character that its recipient is still confined to bed.
“Now, sir!... although I generally make a rule of treating anonymous correspondence with the contempt it deserves—there seems something vaguely familiar in this handwriting that inclines me on this occasion to revoke my usual practise, and make a few inquiries into this puzzle. I look to you for the key. You have the reputation of being a truthful man in this Division.... Is the statement in this letter correct?”
Benton hesitated. “As far as the assault goes, yes, sir,” he said finally.
“What led to this assault?”
The Sergeant hesitated again. “A dirty slander, sir, connecting me with a married woman in the town,” he said.