“As freely as I trust you forgive me, Colonel Darcy,” said the Duke, grasping his hand and shaking it with warmth. “Now for _my_ part: what can I do for you?--what do you wish?” “I can scarcely ask your Royal Highness; I find that some kind friend has already applied on my behalf. I could not have presumed, old and useless as I am, to prefer a claim myself.” “There's your own regiment vacant,” said the Duke, musing. “No, by Jove! I remember Lord Netherby asking me for it the other day for some relative of his own. Taylor, is the colonelcy of the Twenty-eighth promised?” “Your Royal Highness signed it yesterday.” “I feared as much. Who is it?--perhaps he'd exchange.” “Colonel Maurice Darcy, your Royal Highness, unattached.” “What! have I been doing good by stealth? Is this really so?” “If it be, your Royal Highness,” said Darcy, smiling, “I can only assure you that the officer promoted will not exchange.” “The depot is at Gosport, your Royal Highness,” said Taylor, in reply to a question from the Duke. “Well, station it in Ireland, Colonel Darcy may prefer it,” said the duke; “for, as the regiment forms part of the expedition to Egypt, the depot need not be moved for some time to come.” “Your Royal Highness can increase the favor by only one concession--dare I ask it?--to permit me to take the command on service.” The Duke gazed with astonishment at the old man, and gradually his expression became one of deep interest, as he said,-- “Colonel Darcy could claim as a right what I feel so proud to accord him as a favor. Make a note of that, Taylor,” said the Duke, raising his voice so as to be heard through the room: “'Colonel Darcy to take the command on service at his own special request.' Yes, gentlemen,” added he, louder, “these are times when the exigencies of the service demand alike the energy of youth and the experience of age; it is, indeed, a happy conjuncture that finds them united. My Lord Castlereagh and Colonel Darcy, are you disengaged for Wednesday?” They both bowed respectfully. “Then on Wednesday I'll have some of your brother officers to meet you, Colonel. Now, Taylor, let us get through our list.” So saying, the Duke bowed graciously; and Lord Castlereagh and the Knight retired, each too full of pleasure to utter a word as he went. CHAPTER XII. THE TWO SIDES OF A MEDAL Although the Knight lost not an hour in writing to Lady Eleanor, informing her of his appointment, the letter, hastily written, and intrusted to a waiter to be posted, was never forwarded, and the first intelligence of the event reached her in a letter from her courtly relative, Lord Netherby.