Boyd interrupted--"The key of which you gave to one of your own troop, who hides it about his person." "Ay, but--when the soldier he commits it to is in no case to resist its theft. Be silent, I command you, Roxley! You knew this, Mr. Boyd; so did your sentry, after or before your return with him well instructed in how he was to act." "Was it your duty to accept such aid, Captain Jermain? Was it--no matter if you knew the outsider as well as I?" "I--I--there are circumstances, Mr. Boyd, in which--in which an officer acts--according to circumstances; especially with an honest representation in his ear. Mr. Boyd, Mr. Boyd, I know not yet what to think of you, sir, however much you may have trusted your false varlet!" "Determine for yourself, Captain Jermain. But let me ask if I am not to be deceived in a man, like the rest of the world?" "Oh, don't plead that!" retorted Jermain. "Had you less knowledge of him than selecting him meant? Or is he, too, a part of the riddle? For, by the sword of Claver'se! I can find but little account of him from his fellows whom I have catechized here. What have you to say for yourself?" "Captain Jermain, you shall use no such tone to me! I deny the need of my replying to you, sir. Remember that, soldier or not, you have been and you are my guest!" "Oh, you do well to remind me of that! It is no moment for me to be overawed by trumpery Highland dignity, sir. If I am forced to violate the code of hospitality, it is because I have reason to believe that I have been tricked and deluded--with many other people. I propose to sift this occurrence at once, Mr. Boyd." "Sift it how and when you choose, young sir! You will find only honesty where Windlestrae is concerned. I defy you!" "Ha! you defy me?" iterated Jermain, sarcastically. "Mark that, Roxley!" The other two dragoons would have spoken, but he silenced them with an angry gesture. "_That_ commonly means a plot that is deep-laid, Mr. Boyd." "Deep-laid?" returned Gilbert, in a sterner accent and with curling lips--"find it out, then, Captain Jermain! Or, rather, create it to suit yourself and to best screen yourself. You would visit your spleen upon Windlestrae? You would fasten the fault of your prisoner's escape on my family? Suppose I cast in your teeth the abuse of my kindness that made you and your four companions incapable of thinking of your common duty, unable to perform it. Can you deny that----" "No more, Mr. Gilbert Boyd!" exclaimed Jermain, scarlet with anger and the sting of Boyd's bold reminders. But he thought best to stomach the rest of Gilbert's courageous accusation.