believed to have come this way."

Crispin yawned. "I will spare you the trouble. You may take
it from me that he could not be here without my knowledge. I
have been in this room these two hours past."

"Twill not suffice," returned the officer doggedly. "We must
satisfy ourselves."

"Satisfy yourselves?" echoed the other, in tones of deep
amazement. "What better satisfaction can I afford you than my
word? 'Swounds, sir jackanapes," he added, in a roar that sent
the lieutenant back a pace as though he had been struck, "am I
to take it that your errand is a trumped-up business to affront
me? First you invite me to turn tipstaff, then you add your
cursed innuendoes of what people say of me, and now you end by
doubting me! You must satisfy yourself!" he thundered, waxing
fiercer at every word. "Linger another moment on that
threshold, and d -n me, sir, I'll give you satisfaction of
another flavour! Be off!"

Before that hurricane of passion the ensign recoiled, despite
himself.

"I will appeal to General Montgomery," he threatened.

"Appeal to the devil! Had you come hither with your errand in
a seemly fashion you had found my door thrown wide in welcome,
and I had received you courteously. As it is, sir, the cause
for complaint is on my side, and complain I will. We shall see