"It may be we shall see them in the Pump Room again. I'll away there at once, on leaving this. And if I may but speak with the General, 'twill be the proudest moment of my life. You doubtless, Jack, have seen him already?"
"I have had that honour, ma'am. His is a face that, once seen, can never after be forgot."
"With manners of extraordinary address and elegance," added Mr. Bryce.
"But I had not known him before to be so great a friend of the Duke of Hamilton," remarked Mrs. Bryce, in some amazement, it would seem, at her own ignorance. She was generally credited with knowing everything that was to be known about everybody, and she prided herself on this fact.
"'Tis a friendship singularly founded," Jack observed. "Some thirty years ago, the young Duke went for a tour on the Continent, under the charge of Dr. Moore, remaining abroad, if I mistake not, several years. Dr. Moore took his son—the present General Moore—with them. He was then but a boy of ten or twelve. The Duke one day, being in a mood for idle sport, drew his hanger, and fenced with the lad, making him skip to and fro to avoid his sham thrusts. Unluckily Moore chanced to spring suddenly in a line with the Duke's next thrust, and was wounded. He said no more than 'Ha!'—looking the Duke in the face; and the Duke, in extreme terror, ran for Dr. Moore. 'Twas found to be but a flesh wound, the sword having glanced outside the ribs, and the boy soon recovered. But from that date a most strong friendship has subsisted between the two—the Duke being by four or five years the elder. Indeed, as Ivor ever says, none who know General Moore can fail to be attached to him."
"My dear," Mrs. Bryce said to her husband, "'tis about time we should be hieing to the Pump Room. My friends will there be on the look-out for me. And it may even chance that we may meet the General himself." She stood up, eager to be off; but as she went, she gave a parting fling. "Depend on't, old Nap will be in no sort of hurry to let his prisoners go free. No one need think it."
(To be continued.)