Gervase had not moved forward but was still standing in the shadow. Something warned him that the traitor whom he had been watching so long had made his attempt to-night, and was discovered at last.
“Now, sir, what is your errand here to-night? if you do not answer me I shall call the guard.”
“You need not call the guard, Captain Macpherson. I am here on no sinister business, but have come to seek for Mr. Gervase Orme, who, I am told, is in the lines to-night.”
He lifted off his hat and stood bareheaded in the midnight. As he listened, Gervase knew that it was a lie, but did not move from his place of concealment.
“Good God,” cried Macpherson, “´tis the brave wench´s brother. I´m thinking, Mr. Carew, it was a strange way you took to find the gentleman you speak of. It looked like as if you thought to find him yonder.”
“I am not familiar with your outworks, sir,” answered Jasper, who had recovered his composure, and spoke with studied coolness, “and I thought you had another line of defence along the hill.”
“There is no accounting for a man´s thoughts,” said Macpherson, “but the message must have been urgent that needed so much haste. In the future I would advise you to move more circumspectly when musket balls are plenty. Now, perhaps, as the gentleman is my friend, you will even give me your news and I will contrive that it reaches him.”
“It can be delivered to none but himself. If you will tell me where I may find him, I have no doubt I can make my way thither myself.”
“I have no doubt you could, but you see I cannot let you out of my sight. We must even see the gentleman together.”
“You do not mean that you doubt my word?”