t aside
and go at once to the matter that brings me back. You are aware, of
course, that your conduct has compromised a woman's name, and that the
garrison is talking of nothing else."

Jerrold grasped the back of a chair with one slender brown hand, and
looked furtively about as though for some hope of escape. Something like
a startled gulp seemed to work his throat-muscles an instant; then he
stammered his reply:

"I don't know what you mean."

"You _do_ know what I mean. Captain Chester has already told you."

"Captain Chester came in here and made an unauthorized inspection of my
quarters because he heard a shot fired by a sentry. I was out: I don't
deny that. But he proceeded to say all manner of insulting and
unwarrantable things, and tried to force me to hand in a resignation,
simply because I was out of quarters after taps. I could account for
_his_ doing something so idiotic, but I'm at a loss to comprehend your
taking it up."

"The most serious allegation ever made against an officer of the
regiment is made against you, the senior lieutenant of my company, and
the evidence furnished me by the colonel and by Captain Chester is of
such a character that, unless you can refute it and clear her name, you
will have a settlement with me to start with, and your dismissal from
the regiment--"

"Settlement with you? What concern have you in the matter?" interrupted
Jerrold.

"Waste no words on that, Mr. Jerrold. Understand that where her name is
concerned no man on earth is more interested than I. Now answer me. You
were absent from your quarters for some hours after the doctor's party.
Somebody believed to have been you was seen and fired at for refusing to
halt at the order of Captain Chester at 3.30 in the morning. The ladder
that usually hung at your fence was found at the colonel's while you
were out, and that night a woman's name was compromised beyond repair
unless you can repair it. Unless you prove beyond peradventure where you
were both that night and last night,--prove beyond question that you
were not where you are believed to have been,--her name is stained and
yours blackened forever. There are other things you must fully explain;
but these first."

Jerrold's face was growing gray and sickly. He stared at the stern eyes
before him, and could make no answer. His lips moved dryly, but made no
sound.

"Come, I want to hear from you. Where were you, if not with, or seeking,
her? Name your place an