first read my letter." And he went to fetch it from the
writing-table, where he had left it when completed an hour earlier.

His lordship took the letter in silence, and after one piercing
glance at O'Moy broke the seal. In the background, near the window,
the tall figure of Colquhoun Grant stood stiffly erect, his hawk
face inscrutable.

"Ah! Your resignation, O'Moy. But you give no reasons." Again his
keen glance stabbed into the adjutant's face. "Why this?" he
asked sharply.

"Because," said Sir Terence, "I prefer to tender it before it is
asked of me." He was very white, yet by an effort those deep
blue eyes of his met the terrible gaze of his chief without
flinching.

"Perhaps you'll explain," said his lordship coldly.

"In the first place," said O'Moy, "it was myself killed Samoval,
and since your lordship was a witness of what followed, you will
realise that that was the least part of my offence."

The great soldier jerked his head sharply backward, tilting forward
his chin. "So!" he said. "Ha! I beg your pardon, Grant, for
having disbelieved you." Then, turning to O'Moy again: "Well," he
demanded, his voice hard, "have you nothing to add?"

"Nothing that can matter," said O'Moy, with a shrug, and they
stood facing each other in silence for a long moment.