"Smithson!" cried Jerry in contemptuous tones. "I don't care; I will speak now. Smithson--do I know? Yes, sir, I do; and I ought to have spoke before, when he was missing first." "Then speak out," said Lacey, and the angry frown upon the colonel's face began to change to a look of interest. "Who is the scoundrel that had a grudge against Smithson?" "Tell you he ain't no Smithson!" roared Jerry, bringing his fist down upon the table and making the glasses jump and one fall to the floor with a crash. "He made me swear I wouldn't speak; but I will now. He's no Smithson. He's Sir Richard Frayne, Baronet, and the man as hurt him is his black-hearted cousin Mark, as calls himself `Sir.' Him of the 310th." "Stop, my man," cried the colonel. "This is a terribly serious charge to make against an officer and a gentleman." "Officer!" cried Jerry, who was boiling over with hysterical excitement; "he deserves to have his uniform stripped off his back. Gentleman! as borrowed money on bills, and forged Sir Richard's name; said he didn't; and made the poor feller go off, leave everything, and come here and 'list." "You are too excited, my man," said the colonel. "If all this is true--" "True, sir? Bring me face to face with him--no: don't; for if he's killed that poor dear lad, I shall be hung for him as sure as I'm a man." "Brigley," said the colonel, "you will be brought face to face with Sir Mark--" "Mark--no _Sir_," cried Jerry hotly. "Silence, man. You will be brought face to face with the officer you accuse. Meanwhile, you do not leave the barracks. You are under arrest." "No, sir; pray, sir--Colonel, don't say that. Let me go and see him," cried Jerry, with the tears now streaming down his cheeks. "Mr Lacey, sir, say a word for me to the colonel. I must go to Sir Richard. If you shut me up--I can't help it, even if you shoot me for it--I shall desert." "Silence, sir!" "I beg pardon, sir," said Lacey; "the man is over-excited. I will be answerable for him, if you will let him come with me." The colonel nodded his consent. "What he says is true," continued Lacey, flushing now. "It must be. There have been so many things to prove that Smithson--" "S'Richard, sir," cried Jerry. "Well, that the young man we are going to see is a gentleman. I believe it all, Colonel; for, to my sorrow, I know Mark Frayne is little better than a sharper and a cheat." "Mind what you are saying, Mr Lacey," cried the colonel sternly. "I can prove my words, sir," said Lacey firmly. "Go on, and see what is the matter," said the colonel. "Gentlemen, will you excuse me? Major, will you come to my quarters? I should like a word."