anations from a proper sense of what is due."

"And suppose I say that no man is called upon to explain a situation
which has been distorted and misrepresented by the evil imagination of
his fellows?"

"Then I may have to wring the truth out of you,--and _will_; but, for
her sake, I want as little publicity as possible. After this display on
your part, I am not bound to show you any consideration whatever.
Understand this, however: the array of evidence that you were
feloniously inside Colonel Maynard's quarters that night and at his
cottage window last night is of such a character that a court would
convict you unless your _alibi_ was conclusive. Leave the service you
certainly shall, unless this whole thing is cleared up."

"I never was anywhere near Colonel Maynard's either last night or the
other night I was absent."

"You will have to prove it. Mere denials won't help you in the face of
such evidence as we have that you were there the first time."

"What evidence?"

"The photograph that was stolen from Mrs. Maynard between two and four
o'clock that morning was seen in your drawer by Major Sloat at reveille.
You were fool enough to show it to him."

"Captain Armitage, I shall be quite able to show, when the proper time
comes, that the photograph I showed Major Sloat was _not_ stolen: it was
given me."

"That is beyond belief, Mr. Jerrold. Once and for all, understand this
case. You have compromised her good name by the very mystery of your
actions. You have it in your power to clear her by proving where you
were, since you were not near her,--by showing how you got that
photograph,--by explaining how you came to write so strange a letter.
Now I say to you, will you do it, instantly, or must we wring it from
you?"

A sneering smile was the only answer for a moment; then,--

"I shall take great pleasure in confounding my enemies should the matter
be brought before a court,--I'm sure if the colonel can stand that sort
of thing I can,--but as for defending myself or anybody else from
utterly unjust and proofless suspicions, it's quite another thing."

"Good God, Jerrold! do you realize what a position you are taking? Do
you--"

"Oh, not at all, captain," was the airy reply, "not at all. It is not a
position I have taken: it is one into which you misguided conspirators
have forced me. I certainly am not required to compromise anybody else
in order to relieve a suspicion which you, not I, have created. How