"Harland," Giles called to the man at the head of the troop, "you know what I said of sending someone back to-night with news?" "Yes, my lord." "Be good enough to return to me yourself, and leave the command to Slingsby." "Very good, my lord," said the officer, smiling. Young Slingsby leant from the saddle and wrung Giles's hand. The troop clattered off down the narrow street, out of sight. "Now, we'll go and find my man, and over the water to bed, Dick," said Giles. "Giles," said Dick, "I like what you did for that man. He's a nice man, too. But, I say, Giles, when you're angry you cut." "I am rather a bad brute when I'm rubbed the wrong way, Dick. Hold up!" Dick stumbled. "I'm that sleepy, Giles," he explained apologetically, "I can scarcely walk." "My lord," said a man, running up to them at this moment, "I followed you from the inn." "Oh, good!" said Giles, stopping. "I shall be away for three days. Bring my things to the Blue Boar, over the river. Run, there's a good lad." The servant ran off. "That's my man, Dick," said Giles. "We need go no farther that way." Dick had a very vague idea of what followed after that. He thought they were stopped on the bridge, and he heard Giles call out "Lumley!" and someone said, laughing: "Pardon! I did not see--did not recognize your lordship"; and Giles called "Good-night!" as they went on again. It appeared to Dick that he was not walking, and he wondered what Giles was doing, and why both he and the officer had laughed when the latter said he had not recognized him. It was curious, also, that he could see nothing but stars. "Where am I, Giles?" he murmured, moving his limbs uneasily. "In the arms of Morpheus, my dear fellow," said Giles. "And do not kick him in the wind, I beg of you, or he will probably let you fall." CHAPTER XXI THE END OF JOHN DENT Dick slept very heavily that night. He woke once, and found Giles bending over him, smiled comfortably, and fell asleep again; and the very next minute, as it seemed to him, Giles was shaking him by the shoulder, the sun was shining, the birds were singing, and his friend impatient. "Wake up, you dog in a blanket!" Giles cried. "If you don't wake up, I swear I'll go without you." "Giles!" Dick cried, as if he had never seen him the night before, and he was out of bed in a second. Giles was dressed already, and Dick's toilet was scrambled through, with frequent breaks for bursts of confidence and conversation. At last he was complete--collar and sash, and decorously combed-out curls--in his rose-coloured silk and his riding-boots. Giles lounged up and stood beside him, in silk of the same colour and a collar of superb point-lace. "Who told you to wear that colour?" he demanded.