'So, as the general is in town, you'll leave a card, of course, Falconer,' said Fotheringhame, with a peculiar smile, as Cecil took a seat by his side. 'I am in duty bound to do so; though, sooth to say,' added Falconer, for their confidences had become mutual, 'the coldness that accompanied my departure from Eaglescraig gives me unpleasant doubts of my reception; yet leave a card, of course, I must.' Then he thought of Mary on the morning he came away, and the farewell wave of her handkerchief. 'If I call, Fotheringhame, won't you accompany me?' 'Thanks; no. Old fellow, you forget.' 'What?' 'That Miss Erroll's acceptance for the ball came from the general's house.' 'A pleasant place it will be to visit,' said Dick Freeport, striking into the conversation from the opposite side of the table. 'I have had Falconer's confidential report on the subject; he states that the general's cellar is excellent, the sherry pale and dry, the old port full-bodied, the Chateau Lagrange unequalled, and Moët's Imperial ditto! His cook is a regular French _chef_, with a salary that exceeds the pay of Sir Piers himself, no doubt; and then there is his ward----' 'Halt, Dick! how your tongue runs on!' said Cecil, with some annoyance. 'His ward is not to be lightly spoken of at any mess-table--ours especially.' 'I saw the general's carriage to-day in George Street,' cried a cheeky sub-lieutenant from the lower end of the table. 'I knew it by the coat-of-arms; and, by Jove, there were two stunning girls in it!' 'Miss Montgomerie and her friend Miss Erroll, no doubt,' said Fotheringhame. 'One dark--a brunette, and the other brilliantly fair?' 'Exactly; I took stock of them both. Dick will be bringing his engagement-ring with the blue stone into action now.' As this was a regimental joke it caused a little laugh, amid which Acharn, the sporting man of the corps, came in hastily in his mess-jacket and vest, looking rather grim and cross. 'Late for mess, old man,' said Fotheringhame. 'What is up, eh?' 'Wine!' said Acharn sharply, to a waiter, and then replied: 'Only that I am rather up a tree just now.' 'You are rather fond of climbing,' said Fotheringhame. 'Is it lofty?' 'Lofty as a Himalayan pine, by Jove! I say, Falconer, you were at the general's place, Eaglescraig--or what's its name?' 'Yes.' 'Was there a fellow named Hew Montgomerie there?' 'Yes.' 'Hew Caddish Montgomerie, as his pasteboard has it--he is well named! and from whom you won at cards?' 'No; but who utterly rooked me at cards!' said Falconer angrily, while he and Fotheringhame exchanged glances. 'Well, I met him at the United Service Club this afternoon, though he is not a member. We somehow got into play, and I have lost enough to make my governor pull a very long face when he comes to hear of it--a cool £500. He is a fellow whose shifty eyes and thin lips often smile, but never in unison?'