and down the road he walked for hours, still thinking, till the
stars came out in their glory, and looked down on him like pitying eyes.
And once he looked up and noticed them, and they seemed to repeat the
sweet refrain, "God is good, and can help." But he thrust it from him,
and said aloud, "Then why did God _send_ him to me."

"How oft the sight of means to do ill deeds,
"Makes deeds ill done!"

Wearied with walking, he bethought himself where he should go for the
night. Not to the barracks. How could he sleep under the same roof with
that villain? The very sight of him would goad him on to commit some
indecorum before the others. Should he go to his friend Cosin's? No!
Something within made him shrink from encountering, in his present
temper, that tranquil eye. He would be all for peace; and what had he to
do with peace while her dishonour (as he put it) was unavenged, as well
as his own.

However, to walk about all night, especially when by yourself, is not
pleasant. Alas, for those who have to do it, and with no relief to come
its rounds! So Tournier determined to get quarters at the "Wheat Sheaf,"
and knocked the landlord up, as it was past midnight.

Next morning he went to the barracks, and sent in his name to the
commandant, asking for an interview. Major Kelly looked surprised; it
was not the usual way of approach.

"I am very sorry, sir," said Tournier, "to trouble you in this irregular
way; but the fact is, I am in great perplexity as to what I ought to do,
and could not explain myself first to anyone else."

"What is your difficulty, Captain Tournier?" said the major, rather
coldly.

"Among the prisoners who arrived yesterday was a certain Colonel
Fontenoy, who is my bitterest enemy, having wronged me past all
endurance. I cannot be in the same quarters with him. Could you do me
the very great kindness of putting me into one of the other wards, even
though it be that of common men?"

Major Kelly paused awhile, as if thinking. "Is this Colonel Fontenoy,"
he said, at length, "the same man as he who did indeed wrong you so
shamefully, and drove you to desperation?"

"The very same."

"When you first spoke," said the major, "I was going to say that it was
quite out of my power to arrange the prisoners with exact regard, or even
any regard, to their private quarrels; but then yours is no common case,
and I may add, your sensitiveness of no ordinary kind, I will see to the
matter.