yours, this fellow Butler, who has
made enough mischief in the country to imperil our relations with
our allies. And I am half pledged to condone his adventure at Tavora.
There's nothing for it, O'Moy. As your friend, I am infernally angry
with you for placing yourself in this position; as your commanding
officer I can only order you under arrest and convene a court-martial to
deal with you."

Sir Terence bowed his head. He was a little surprised by all this heat.
"I never expected anything else," he said. "And it's altogether at a
loss I am to understand why your lordship should be vexing yourself in
this manner."

"Because I've a friendship for you, O'Moy. Because I remember that
you've been a loyal friend to me. And because I must forget all this
and remember only that my duty is absolutely rigid and inflexible. If I
condoned your offence, if I suppressed inquiry, I should be in duty and
honour bound to offer my own resignation to his Majesty's Government.
And I have to think of other things besides my personal feelings, when
at any moment now the French may be over the Agueda and into Portugal."

Sir Terence's face flushed, and his glance brightened.

"From my heart I thank you that you can even think of such things at
such a time and after what I have done."

"Oh, as to what you have done--I understand that you are a fool, O'Moy.
There's no more to be said. You are to consider yourself under arrest.
I must do it if you were my own brother, which, thank God, you're not.
Come, Grant. Good-bye, O'Moy." And he held out his hand to him.

Sir Terence hesitated, staring.

"It's the hand of your friend, Arthur Wellesley, I'm offering you, not
the hand of your commanding officer," said his lordship savagely.

Sir Terence took it, and wrung it in silence, perhaps more deeply moved
than he had yet been by anything that had happened to him that morning.

There was a knock at the door, and Mullins opened it to admit the
adjutant's orderly, who came stiffly to attention.

"Major Carruthers's compliments, sir," he said to O'Moy, "and his
Excellency the Secretary of the Council of Regency wishes to see you
very urgently."

There was a pause. O'Moy shrugged and spread his hands. This message was
for the adjutant-general and he no longer filled the office.

"Pray tell Major Carruthers that I--" he was beginning, when Lord
Wellington intervened.

"Desire his Excellency to step across here. I will see him myself."