the offensive, and at once broached another matter which he had much
at heart.

"I wonder when we will leave Elvas," he exclaimed, abruptly. "If we
stay here much longer, we will be at war with the people around us. I
never knew my lord so negligent of discipline. It evidently grows upon
him."

"The old gentleman," said Bradshawe, carelessly, "certainly holds the
reins with a slack hand."

"He is content with preserving order in Elvas," said L'Isle; "but
turns a deaf ear to almost every complaint the peasantry make against
our people."

"Many of them are lies," said Bradshawe, coolly.

"And many of them are too well founded," answered L'Isle. "You are the
senior officer in the brigade, and a man of no little tact. Could you
not stir my lord up to looking more closely into this matter."

"I will think of it," said Bradshawe, anxious to open a more
interesting subject.

"Pray think of it speedily," said L'Isle. "There is no time to be
lost, and I must lose no time now. The sun has set, and I must be in
Olivenca by midnight."

"What will you do there?" asked Bradshawe.