‘Steady, Will; remember we’ve no proof. I certainly saw Napper in the arbour of the inn; but that is all. No one saw him tampering with Dainty. Oblige me, Will, by saying nothing yet.’ Next morning Jack reported himself fit for duty. He saw nothing of Napper, nor did he want to. Before the Hussars marched off Larry came across and wished Jack good-bye, saying he hoped they would soon meet again. Jack was preparing to parade with the rest of his regiment when Sergeant Barrymore came up to him. ‘Jack, my boy,’ he said, ‘I’ve good news for you. We’re going on detachment duty to Hampton Court to relieve F Troop, which is to return to the regiment “to be smartened up,” as the adjutant says.’ Jack was as pleased as anybody at the change, and so it happened that when the ‘Death or Glory Boys’ marched off, Jack’s troop was left behind to make their way to Hampton Court. CHAPTER XII. THE ROUTE ARRIVES. Jack found life ‘on detachment’ very pleasant, and time soon passed. Sergeant Barrymore was most kind to him, and took great pains to make him an efficient soldier. One great piece of good news Jack heard, and that was that his mother’s affairs had unexpectedly improved, and that his family were coming down to rent a pretty little cottage at Kingston; and when they arrived Jack was able to run over and see them three or four times a week. Molly got several music-pupils, who paid very well, and things were more comfortable with the Blairs than they had been since the father’s death. At Christmas Jack got leave, and a very jolly day they had at Rose Cottage. The New Year came in and weeks rolled by. Will Hodson occasionally rode over from the regiment and brought news. Napper was sent to Coventry by the rest of the trumpeters. Sergeant Linham kept an eye on him, and had it not been that he was an excellent performer and in the good books of the bandmaster things might have gone awkwardly with him. But there were other topics than Napper to think of just then. During those early weeks of the year there were persistent rumours of war. War was in the air--war with Russia or Turkey; the soldiers were not sure which, nor did they care. Then, early in February, the Guards left England for Malta. They had a rousing reception as they marched through London. The wiseacres said there would be no war after all. In spite of their prophecy other regiments went, and excitement rose to fever-heat. Cavalry were to follow, and every trooper longed for his chance; but no regiments were named. It was on a fine April morning that Jack and his troop were returning from exercising the horses when they saw coming along the road towards them a Lancer in full-dress, his plume and lance-flags fluttering in the wind. On reaching Cornet Leland, the trooper reined in, brought his lance to the ‘carry,’ and handed the officer a long blue official envelope.