I hope I shall find out that this is the truth."

Dick flushed.

"There is too much lesson-giving, and the band practice is neglected.
Be good enough to recollect, sir, that I have reported your conduct."

"I don't understand you, sir," replied Dick.

"I allude to that episode, sir, when you absented yourself from the
practice without leave. Your conduct is not what it should be, sir.
And recollect this: that a man picked up, as you were, in the street
ought to be doubly careful when he has got a lift in life; so have a
care, sir--have a care."

"I am sorry I absented myself, sir," began Dick, but Wilkins raised
himself on tiptoe, and interrupted him.

"Say `stopped away,' sir. Leave `absented' to your officers. There's
too much favouritism in this regiment; but I warn you, sir: have a
care--have a care."

He strutted away, arranging the few thin bits of hair about his ears,
leaving Dick looking after him.

"Oh, you stupid little man!" muttered Dick, who then went to his
quarters to think out what he had better do. But, try hard as he would,
he could not think it out; for the more he thought, the more it seemed
to him that he had completely obliterated himself by his foolish act--
that Sir Richard Frayne was dead to the world and Dick Smithson reigned
in his stead.

CHAPTER TWENTY SIX.

FINDING A LEECH.

Dick Smithson was busy, a few mornings later, working with his hands as
well as his brain. The latter could not succeed in its task; for, the
more he thought, the more desperate grew the confusion in his mind; and,
by way of relief, he tried hard to dismiss the whole business, but only
to find that it would not go.

His hands were more successful; for he had polished his sword,
pipe-clayed his belt, gloves, and the little leather pouch which held
his music-cards, and now, with a brush ready, he was performing a task
which looked like a puzzle, for he was passing the gilt buttons of his
uniform through a hole in a flat stick, and then running them one after
another along a slit.

He had heard someone enter the room; but he was too intent upon his work
to look up, and he had just picked up the brush to begin polishing the
buttons, now in a neat row, when a couple of hands were passed round
him--one taking his jacket and button-stick, the other the brush, which
was briskly applied, accompanied by a loud, hissing noise, such as an
ostler makes, to blow away the dust, when grooming a horse.

"Je