"Yes," said the colonel; and then, after a pause, "You seem to attach yourself more than ever to Mr Lennox since this affair." "Yes, sir; we are very old friends. I should not be his friend if I did not stick to him now he is under a cloud." "Rather unwise, is it not? You see, you cut yourself apart from your brother officers, who are bound to stand aloof till Mr Lennox has cleared himself." "I'm sorry not to be friendly with them, sir," said Dickenson sturdily; "and if there is any cutting apart, it is their doing, not mine. I am ready to do my duty in every way, sir; but I must stand by my friend." "Then you have perfect faith in his innocence?" "Perfect, sir; and so would you have if you knew him as well as I do." "I do know him pretty well, Dickenson," said the colonel quietly. "Well, I suppose you know that I ought to be very severe with you?" "Yes, sir, of course." "And that I was bound to summon you to come to my quarters?" "Or put me under arrest, sir." "I cannot spare any of my officers to-night, Dickenson, so I suppose it must be deferred till after the attack." "Thank you, sir. I don't want to be out of the fight." "I suppose not. By the way, have you seen much of Roby since he has been about again?" "Oh yes; a great deal, sir, on purpose. I've been trying to get him into a better frame of mind." "Well, I must say that you have not succeeded very well." "Horribly, sir. I thought he'd think differently as his wound healed up; but he is worse than ever." "Now then," said the colonel, "tell me frankly what you think of Captain Roby's state." "I think he puzzles me, sir. One hour I think he is as mad as a hatter--" "Say as mad." "Yes, sir; one hour he's as mad as mad, and the next he's perfectly sane." "Perfectly sane, I should say, Dickenson," said the colonel. "Yes, sir, in all things but one, and over that he's just like that fellow in the story." "What fellow in what story?" said the colonel coldly. "That Mr Dick, sir, who couldn't write anything without getting King Charles's head into it." "I see; and you think Captain Roby cannot help getting what he considers to be Lennox's cowardice into _his_ head?" "Exactly, sir." "Humph! Well, there may be something in that. There, I have no more to say to you now. No rashness to-night, but do your best with your men. I'd rather hear that you saved one of our lads than killed half-a-dozen Boers." "I understand, sir." "Understand this too. If you have any conversation with your brother officers, say I have had you here to give you a severe reproof for the present, and that probably something more will follow when we have crushed the Boers. If they crush us you will get off. That will do, Dickenson. I expect our friends will visit us to-night, though more probably it will be just before daylight. Ask the major to step here as you go. By the way, you and Lennox were at school together?" "Yes, sir; and at Sandhurst too."