"Mr. Mankell, you are over hasty. I was about to explain that I should esteem it quite an honour to sign your testimonial."
"So should I--upon my soul, I should!" declared the Major.
"There's nothing I wouldn't do to oblige you, Mr. Mankell," stammered the chief warder.
"Same 'ere!" cried Warder Slater.
"You really are too rapid in arriving at conclusions, Mr. Mankell," remarked the governor. "I do beg you will not suppose there was any negative intention."
The darkness, the rumbling, and the shaking ceased as suddenly as they began. The prisoner smiled.
"Perhaps I was too hasty," he confessed. "It is an error which can easily be rectified."
He raised his hand. A piece of paper fluttered from the ceiling. It fell upon the table. It was the testimonial.
"Your signature, Major Hardinge, should head the list."
"I--I--I'd rather somebody else signed first."