which nothing but time - if, indeed, you live - will cure you.
Your anxiety touching this package determines me to open it."

Kenneth sneered at the man's conclusions, and, shrugging his
shoulders, turned slightly aside.

"Perchance, master wiseacres, when you have read it, you will
appreciate how egotism may also lead men into fatal errors.
Haply, too, you will be able to afford Colonel Pride some
satisfactory reason for tampering with his correspondence."

But Hogan heard him not. He had unfolded the letter, and at
the first words he beheld, a frown contracted his brows. As he
read on the frown deepened, and when he had done, an oath broke
from his lips. "God's life!" he cried, then again was silent,
and so stood a moment with bent head. At last he raised his
eyes, and let them rest long and searchingly upon Kenneth, who
now observed him in alarm.

"What - what is it?" the lad asked, with hesitancy.

But Hogan never answered. He strode past him to the door, and
flung it wide.

"Beddoes!" he called. A step sounded in the passage, and the
sergeant appeared. "Have you a trooper there?"

"There is Peter, who rode with me."

"Let him look to this fellow. Tell him to set him under lock