"I would point out, sir," said I, "that this mission is mine both
by right and by convenience."

"Why so, Captain Gerard?"

"By right because I am the senior captain. By convenience
because I shall not be missed in the regiments since the men have
not yet learned to know me."

The colonel's features relaxed.

"There is certainly truth in what you say, Captain Gerard," said
he. "I think that you are indeed best fitted to go upon this
mission. If you will come with me I will give you your
instructions."

I wished my new comrades good-night as I left the room, and I
repeated that I should hold myself at their disposal at five
o'clock next morning. They bowed in silence, and I thought that
I could see from the expression of their faces that they had
already begun to take a more just view of my character.

I had expected that the colonel would at once inform me what it
was that I had been chosen to do, but instead of that he walked
on in silence, I following behind him.

We passed through the camp and made our way across the trenches
and over the ruined heaps of stones which marked the old wall of
the town. Within, there was a labyrinth of passages formed among