"Peace offers few opportunities of advancement,"--with a regretful shake of the head. "But your minds all seem made up. It is a great chance thrown away, but I judge it is no use urging the matter----" "Not the very slightest. To put the matter plainly, Captain Carron----" "Colonel, with your permission!" "You have forfeited all right to dictate as to those boys' future. Legally, perhaps----" "_Merci!_ I shall not invoke the aid of the law, Mr. Eager." "It would clear the way here if you took one of them off our hands," said Sir Denzil; "but I agree with Mr. Eager, one Frenchman in the family is quite enough. You will have to go back empty-handed, Denzil." "I am glad to have seen those boys, anyway. We may meet again, some time, Mr. Eager. In the meantime, my grateful thanks for all you have done for them!" And next morning he took leave of his sons, and galloped off along the sands the way he had come, and the boys stood looking after him with very mixed feelings, and when he was out of sight looked down at the guineas he had left in their hands and thought kindly of him. CHAPTER XXV REVELATION AND SPECULATION Charles Eager pondered the matter deeply, and was ready for the boys when they tackled him the next morning. He knew, as soon as he saw them, that they had been discussing matters during the night and were intent on information. "Mr. Eager," said Jack, "Will you tell us about our father? Why is he in the French army?" Eager told them briefly that part of the story. "And do you consider he did right to go away like that?" was the next question. "Under the circumstances I should say he did. At all events it was Sir Denzil's wish that he should go, and he could judge better then than we can now." "And we two were born after he'd left?" "So I am told." "Well now, even in twins isn't one generally the older of the two. Which of us is the elder?" "That I don't know. I believe there is some doubt about it, and so we look upon you both as on exactly the same level." "Suppose Sir Denzil should die, and our father should die--we don't want them to, you understand, but one can't help wondering--which of us would be Sir Denzil?" "That is a matter that has exercised your grandfather's mind since ever you were born, my boy, and I'm afraid we can arrive no nearer to the answer. We can only wait." "It'll be jolly awkward," protested Jim. "Very awkward. Some arrangement will have to be come to, of course; but exactly what, is not for me to say. Your grandfather can divide his estate between you, and as to the title----" "We could take it turn about," suggested Jim. "Or you may both win such new honours for yourselves that it will be of small account." "Yes, that's an idea," said Jack thoughtfully. And after a pause, "And you can tell us nothing about our mother, Mr. Eager?" "No. You were ten years old, you know, when we met for the first time and you stole all my clothes. What a couple of absolute little savages you were!"