said, in a tone of consternation. "It seems to me that it would be
an awfully impudent thing, to go in staff uniform to dine with the
general, when I have no right whatever to wear it."

"Well, as the general advised you himself to buy the things, he
cannot blame you for wearing them; and I have not the least doubt
that he is going to offer you a staff appointment of some sort."

"I should like it very much, as long as the war lasted, Captain
Cooke; but I don't think that I should care about staying in the
army, permanently. You see, my uncle is working up a very good
business. He has been at it, now, seven or eight years; and he was
saying the last time that I was with him that, as soon as these
troubles were over, and trade began again, he should give me a
fourth share of it; and make it a third share, when I got to
twenty-one."

"Then you would be a great fool to give it up," Captain Cooke said,
heartily. "A man who has got a good business, out here, would have
an income as much as all the officers of a regiment, together. He
is his own master, and can retire when he likes, and enjoy his
money in England.

"Still, as trade is at a standstill at present, I think that it
would be wise of you to accept any offer that the general might
make to you. It might even be to your advantage, afterwards. To
have served on Campbell's staff will be an introduction to every
officers' mess in the country; and you may be sure that, not only
shall we hold Rangoon in future, but there will be a good many more
British stations between Assam and here than there now are; and it
would be a pull for you, even in the way of trade, to stand on a
good footing everywhere."

"I quite see that," Stanley agreed, "and if the general is good
enough to offer me an appointment, I shall certainly take it."

"You have almost a right to one, Brooke. In the Peninsula lots of
men got their commissions by serving for a time as volunteers; and
having been wounded at Ramoo, and being one of the few survivors of
that fight; and having gone through a captivity, at no small risk
of being put to death the first time that the king was out of
temper, your claim is a very strong one, indeed. Besides, there is
hardly a man here who speaks Burmese, and your services will be
very valuable.

"Here are fifty rupees," he went on, handing the money to Stanley.
"It is not much change out of five hundred; but I can assure you
that you have got the things at a barg