“Ar--no, sir; five minutes good by the Horse Guards. Ar--I should have been here sooner, but I have been--ar--recruiting, you see. Mr. Bracy, Mr. Frere, Mr. Arundel--you know Leicester?” “Delighted to see such an addition to our forces,” replied Bracy, bowing; then shaking hands with Leicester, he added in an undertone, “Walk with me when we start; I have a word to say to you.” Leicester nodded in assent, and then proceeded to accost others of the party with whom he was acquainted. “Ar--now, gentlemen, will you please to attend to orders?” began Grandeville, raising his voice. “Hear, hear!” cried the pale young man, faintly. “We’ll do it betther if you’d be houldin’ yer tongue, maybe,” interposed the hero from Cork, who, being interpreted, was none other than Lieutenant McDermott of the Artillery, believed by the Commander-in-Chief to be at that very moment on duty at Woolwich. “Ar--you are to divide yourselves into three or four bodies.” “Faith, we must get blind drunk, and see double twice over then, before we can do that,” remarked the son of Erin argumentatively. “Now, Paddy, be quiet,” said Bracy, soothingly; “you know you never got so far in your arithmetic as vulgar fractions, so you can’t be supposed to understand the matter.” A somewhat forcible rejoinder was drowned by Grandeville, who continued, in his most sonorous tone: “Ar--you will then proceed to the hall of meeting, and make your way quietly to the right side, as near the platform as possible. There--keep together, and attract as little attention as you can, and Mr. Bracy will transmit such directions to you as circumstances may render advisable. Do you all clearly understand?” A general shout of assent, varied by a muttered “Not in the slightest degree,” from McDermott, was followed by the order, “Then march!” and in another moment the party were _en route_. The pale young man, who was in his secret soul rather alarmed than otherwise, had attached himself firmly to Frere, with whom he was slightly acquainted, and who he thought would take care of him, so Lewis was left to pair off with Leicester. As they proceeded, the latter began: “Depend upon it, there’s some trick in all this, probably intended for Grandeville’s benefit; that fellow Bracy is one of the most inveterate practical jokers extant, and he seems particularly busy to-night; he’s a clerk in the Home Office, and Grandeville believes in him to an immense extent; but here he comes. Well, Bracy, what is it, man?” “Is your friend safe?” inquired Bracy aside, glancing at Lewis as he spoke. “The most cautious man in London,” was the reply, “and one who appreciates our noble commander thoroughly; so now allow us a peep behind the scenes.”