t."

"By no means, Sergeant McKay. I should be sorry to admit that any man,
however highly born, had lost his right to be deemed a gentleman
because he is a sergeant in the Royal Picts."

"You, Hyde, are a gentleman too. I am sure of that."

"I am a sergeant in the Royal Picts. That is enough for me and for
you."

"Why did you enlist?"

Hyde shook his head gravely.

"There are pages in every man's life," he said, "which he does not
care to lift again when they are once turned down. I have not asked
you for your secret; respect mine."

"But I have nothing to conceal," said McKay, quickly. "I am ready
enough to tell you why I enlisted."

"As you please; but, mind, I have not asked you."

There was little encouragement in this speech; but McKay ignored it,
and went on--

"I enlisted because I could not enter the army in any other way. My
friends could not afford to purchase me a commission."

"Why were you so wild to become a soldier?"

"It was my father's profession. He was a captain in--"

"That should have given you a claim for an ensigncy, as an officer's
son."

"But my father was not in the English service. He was only half an
Englishman, really."

"Indeed! How so?"

"Although Scotch by extraction, as our name will tell you, my father
was born in Poland. He was a Russian subject, and as such was
compelled to serve in the Russian army."

"For long?"

"Until he was mixed in an unfortunate national movement, and only
escaped execution by flight. He lived afterwards at Geneva. It was
there he met my mother."

"Is it through him or her that you are related to the Wilders?"

"Through my mother. She was daughter of the Honourable Anastasius, son
of the twelfth earl."

"And what might be the distinguishing numeral of the present Essendine
potentate?"

"He is fourteenth earl."

"Then he and your mother are first cousins?"

"Quite so; and I am his first cousin once removed."

"Ah! that is very nice for you," said old Hyde, with a tinge of
contempt in his tone. "They're not much use to you though, these fine
relations. Surely Lord Essendine could have got you a commission by
holding up his hand?"

"That's just what he would not do, and why I hate him and the whole of
the Wilders family. Lord Essendine has never recognised us."

"Why? Is there any reason?"

"The Honourable Anastasius made a poor match, married against his
father's wish, and was cut off with a shilling. His brother, the next