"One moment," cried the colonel; "you have seen a great deal of the young man. Do you think he was likely to get into bad company?" "That he wasn't, sir!" cried someone excitedly; and Jerry advanced from where he had been waiting upon his master, and now stood close to the colonel, gesticulating with an empty claret bottle in his hand. "Silence, sir!" cried the colonel; "how dare you speak!" "Beg pardon, sir; I felt abound to speak because I know Dick Smithson isn't at all likely to go to any low places." The colonel frowned; but he said no more, and Jerry was allowed to go back to his place. That night the superintendent of police was summoned to the barracks, and had a long talk with the colonel and major. "No, gentlemen, I don't think it is at all likely. They get down to the rougher houses, and drink and stay a day or two; but the landlords get rid of them as soon as they have spent all their money. But, as you've sent for me, I'll set a couple of our sharpest men to go from house to house, and then report to you." The superintendent left to perform his mission, and orders were given to the military provosts; but another day passed away, and neither civil nor military police had anything to report. No one had seen the young bandsman on his way to some distant railway station, and men began to shake their heads, while Jerry's face looked hollow from anxiety. At the same time, though, he felt a kind of pride in the fact that he was constantly being questioned by those who knew that he and Dick had been on friendly terms, this culminating in his being stopped one day in the street by a couple of ladies. "You are Mr Lacey's servant, are you not?" said the younger. "Yes, ma'am--oh, I beg your pardon, miss. I didn't know you behind your veil." "Has anything been heard of Smithson?" "No, ma'am. I'm sorry to say that--" There was a sigh, and the lady turned away, followed by her companion. "Well," said Jerry, "she might have stopped to hear all I had to say. My word, now people have got to like him! Even her. Well, he saved her life. What can have come to him? I daren't go and say all I think, for, after all, it mayn't be true. I know: I'll wait a week, and then, right or wrong, I'll speak; for I can't keep his secret longer than that." CHAPTER THIRTY SEVEN. THE COWARD'S BLOW. Fully determined that there must be no scandal, Dick resolved to await his opportunity, and then confront his cousin, to demand of him that he should quickly vacate his position; and, to this end, he watched for a chance to meet him somewhere quite alone. But he very soon became aware of the fact that not only had Mark recognised, but avoided, him, till one day, when idling along about a couple of miles from the town, there was Mark ahead, going on in front, as if inviting him to follow, and leading him on right away.