"What other?"

"The Richard. I shall allus say `S'Richard' to myself."

"Very well, do. But, mind--I trust you."

"And you may, sir. It seems to me--as I was going to say--if you won't
be offended--"

"Go on, man," cried Richard; "nothing will offend me now."

"Oh! won't it? You're as big a honourable gent now as ever you was;
but, if you was to go to your cousin, sir, he'd call you a impostor."

"I'm afraid so, Jerry."

"And, if you turn nasty with him, he'll tell you to go down in the
country there, and look at your grave."

Dick was silent.

"But don't you be downhearted, sir. You shall have your rights. What
d'ye say to sending a petition to the Queen? I'm told that she's a very
nice old lady, when you know her."

Dick laughed.

"Why should she believe me?"

"Because you're a gent, sir. Anybody could see that with half a heye.
But, look here, sir, there--"

"Will you leave off saying `sir'? I am Dick Smithson."

"Oh, very well, Dick Smithson. There must be a way out of the wood.
What do you say to me killing him--by accident?"

"I say, talk sense, man!"

"Right; I will. I wish I was in your regiment, though. One could see
you oft'ner like, and settle things with you. I s'pose if I was to
desert and 'list in yours, they'd make a row about it?"

"No doubt about that, Jerry."

"There wouldn't be no harm. I should only have changed from one
regiment to another."

"You know enough about a soldier's duties to the colours, man. But I
wish you were in the 205th with all my heart."

"And in your company? I could valet you just as I used to."

"Nonsense! I'm not in any company; and for me to have a servant would
be impossible as well as absurd."

"Well, I can't see as it would be absurd, because you, being a gent,
ought to have your servant. But, to come back to my being in your
regiment--ain't there no way of managing it?"

"I don't know, Jerry. Officers exchange."

"There you are: allus a way out of a difficulty, if you can find it.
Officers exchange; why shouldn't privates? I could be no end o' use to
you, Dick Smithson. S'pose we try?"

Dick laughed, and shook his head.

"Impossible, Jerry! We must be content as we are for the present, and
meet now and then, and talk matters over till I see my way to get out of
this position."

And it was in this way that they parted.

About a week later Dick was summoned to the lieutenant's rooms; and,
upon reaching them, it was