“I say I knowed netting about der voman, but if he say dat an officer of der ----th Virginia Cavalry vould not fight mit him he vos a damned liar. I vould have hit him, but I vos under der flag of truce.” I reached my hand out to him across the table. “I thank you, Captain Carlson,” I said, “for both your message and your answer. What did this man look like?” “He vos a pig vellow, mit a black moustache and gray eyes.” “Do you know him?” questioned Maitland. “His name is Brennan,” I answered slowly, “a major in the Federal service. We have already met twice in rough and tumble contests, but the next time it will be with steel.” “There is a woman, then?” “It seems from Captain Carlson's report he has seen fit to connect one with our difficulty.” There was a pause, as if they waited for me to add some further explanation, but I could not--her name should never be idly discussed about a mess-table through any word of mine. “Gentlemen,” said Maitland at last, gravely, “this is evidently a personal matter with which we have no direct concern. Captain Wayne's reputation is not one to be questioned, either as regards his chivalry toward women or his bravery in arms. I pledge you his early meeting with this major.” They drank the toast standing, and I read in each face before me a frank, soldierly confidence and comradeship which caused my heart to glow. CHAPTER XXVI THE SCOUTING DETAIL This premeditated insult, which Brennan had evidently despatched broadcast in hope that through some unknown channel it might reach me, changed my entire relationship with the man. Heretofore, while feeling deep resentment toward him, I yet was strongly inclined to avoid any personal meeting. Fear had nothing whatever to do with this shrinking on my part, nor would I have deliberately avoided him, yet as the husband of Edith Brennan I realized that if he suffered seriously at my hands it must for ever separate us. I felt more and more deeply the shame of loving the wife of another, and certainly I could never bring myself to advertise her as in any way the cause of so disgraceful a brawl. Far better was it for me to suffer in silence any taunts and degradations he chose to place upon me. Surely I loved her well enough to remain patient for her sake.