him into the army, and I'm somewhat astonished that he has done so
well."

"They were all soldiers, I understand. But wasn't there some scandal
about a cousin?"

"Richard Blake?" said Mrs. Keith, making room for Millicent Graham, her
companion, who rejoined them. "It's getting an old story, and I always
found it puzzling. So far as one could Judge, Dick, Blake should have
made an excellent officer; his mother, the Colonel's sister, was true
to the Challoner strain, his father a reckless Irish sportsman."

"But what was the story? I haven't heard it."

"After Blake broke his neck when hunting, the Colonel brought Dick up,
and, as a matter of course, sent him into the army. He became a
sapper, entering the Indian service. There he met his cousin, Bertram,
who was in the line, somewhere on the frontier. They were both sent
with an expedition into the hills, and there was a night attack. It
was important that an advanced post should be defended, and Dick had
laid out the trenches. In the middle of the fight an officer lost his
nerve, the position was stormed, and the expedition terribly cut up.
Owing to the darkness and confusion there was a doubt about who had led
the retreat, but Dick was blamed and made no defense. In spite of
this, he was acquitted at the inquiry, perhaps because he was a
favorite and Colonel Challoner was well known upon the frontier; but
the opinion of the mess was against him. He left the service, and the
Challoners never speak of him."

"I once met Lieutenant Blake," Millicent broke in, with a flush in her