“Ah, then, Mister Power, it’s twice I’d think of returning your visit, if I knew the state of your avenue. If there’s a grand jury in Spain, they might give you a presentment for this bit of road. My knees are as bare as a commissary’s conscience, and I’ve knocked as much flesh off my shin-bones as would make a cornet in the hussars!” A regular roar of laughter from both of us apprized Dennis of our vicinity. “And it’s laughing ye are? Wouldn’t it be as polite just to hold a candle or lantern for me in this confounded watercourse?” “How goes it, Major?” cried I, extending my hand to him through the window. “Charley--Charley O’Malley, my son! I’m glad to see you. It’s a hearty laugh you gave us this morning. My friend Mickey’s a pleasant fellow for a secretary-at-war. But it’s all settled now; Crawfurd arranged it for you this afternoon.” “You don’t say so! Pray tell me all about it.” “That’s just what I won’t; for ye see I don’t know it; but I believe old Monsoon’s affair has put everything out of their heads.” “Monsoon’s affair! What is that? Out with it, Dennis.” “Faith, I’ll be just as discreet about that as your own business. All I can tell you is, that they brought him up to headquarters this evening with a sergeant’s guard, and they say he’s to be tried by court-martial; and Picton is in a blessed humor about it.” “What could it possibly have been? Some plundering affair, depend on it.” “Faith, you may swear it wasn’t for his little charities, as Dr. Pangloss calls them, they’ve pulled him up,” cried Power. “Maurice is in high feather about it,” said Dennis. “There are five of them up at Fuentes, making a list of the charges to send to Monsoon; for Bob Mahon, it seems, heard of the old fellow’s doings up the mountains.” “What glorious fun!” said Tower. “Let’s haste and join them, boys.” “Agreed,” said I. “Is it far from this?” “Another stage. When we’ve got something to eat,” said the major, “if Power has any intentions that way--” “Well, I really did begin to fear Fred’s memory was lapsing; but somehow, poor fellow, smiles have been more in his way than sandwiches lately.” An admonishing look from Power was his only reply, as he walked towards the door. Bent upon teasing him, however, I continued,-- “My only fear is, he may do something silly.” “Who? Monsoon, is it?” “No, no. Not Monsoon; another friend of ours.” “Faith, I scarcely thought your fears of old Monsoon were called for. He’s a fox--the devil a less.” “No, no, Dennis. I wasn’t thinking of him. My anxieties were for a most soft-hearted young gentleman,--one Fred Power.” “Charley, Charley!” said Fred, from the door, where he had been giving directions to his servant about supper. “A man can scarce do a more silly thing than marry in the army; all the disagreeables of married life, with none of its better features.”