"Quite so. You wouldn't," said Charteris soothingly.
"Though it's perfectly clear that he was merely pursuing his grudge against me. He even stoops to vilify my poor fellows in order to justify himself. I hear that he said it was impossible to entrust such an important capture to an officer not under his authority, and to troops which had probably been bribed already to let Sher Singh slip past."
"You had visitors before I came, then?"
"A whole lot of 'em. Uncommon sympathetic they were, too."
"Uncommon pleased to get up a row between you and old Speathley, I should say. Don't you listen to 'em, Hal."
"My dear Bob, there are some things one can't pass over. We have submitted to Speathley's caprices too long, and it's time to speak out. Personal injustice may be forgiven——"
"Precious little forgiveness about you just now," muttered Charteris.
"But when it is a case of injury to the public service, it is necessary to make a stand," concluded Gerrard impressively.
"Oh, all right; and what's your idea of making a stand? Challenging
Speathley, or denouncing him to his face?"
"I shall write to the papers."