t Conway was
in the front; and when the fellow summons pluck enough to move on to
head-quarters, he learns that Charley has just gone out with a party of
eight, openly declaring they mean to do something before they come back.
Up to this, the man of parchment has studiously kept his secret; in
fact, the general belief about him was that he was charged with a writ,
or some such confounded thing, against the poor Smasher, and, of course,
the impression contributed little to secure him a polite reception.
Now, however, all his calm and prudential reserve is gone, and he rushes
madly into the General's tent, where the General is at breakfast with
all the staff and several guests, and, with the air of a man secure
of his position, he flings down upon the table a letter to the General
Commanding-in-chief from a Minister of State, saying, 'There, sir! may I
reckon upon your assistance?' It was some time before the General could
quite persuade himself that the man was in his senses, he talked away
so wildly and incoherently, repeatedly saying, 'I throw it all upon you,
sir. Remember, sir, I take none of the responsibility,--none!'

"'I wish you would kindly inform me as to the precise service you expect
at my hands, sir,' said the General, somewhat haughtily.

"'To have this document deposited in the hands of Lieutenant Charles
Conway, sir,' said he, pompously, laying down a heavily sealed package;
'to convey to him the news that his claim to the title and estates of
his family has been declared perfect; that before he can reach England
he will be Lord Viscount Cackington and Conway.'

"'Bad news from the front, sir,9 said an aide-de-camp, breaking in.
'After a successful attack on a small redoubt near the Cemetery; two
squadrons of the --th have been surprised, and nearly all cut up. Conway,
they say, killed.'

"'No, not killed,' broke in another; 'badly wounded, and left behind.'

"There was, as you may imagine, very little thought bestowed on the
lawyer after this. Indeed, the party was scattered almost immediately,
and Colthorpe was just going out, when one of Miss Nightingale's ladies
said to him, 'Will you do me a great favor, Major Colthorpe,--a very
great favor? It is to let me have my saddle put on your gray charger for
half an hour.' Colly says, if she had n't been the very prettiest girl
he had ever seen since they left England, he 'd have shirked it, but he
could not; and in less than ten minutes, there she was,