help keeping it back? And don't,
Frank lad. I say, how strong you are. You're ragging my collar about.
I shan't be fit to be seen."

"Then why don't you speak? It's cruel, horrible," cried Frank hoarsely.

"Because it comes so hard, old lad. I feel just as you told me you felt
when you had to go and tell Lady Gowan that morning."

"Yes, yes, I know; but do--do speak! You've tortured me enough."

"I've just seen Captain Murray."

"Ah!"

"He was coming out of the colonel's quarters."

"Well? Be quick--oh, do be quick!"

"I ran to him, and he took me into his room and told me."

"Yes--told you--what?"

"He said he was very sorry for you and Lady Gowan, but the King was as
hard as a rock. The Prince had been at him, and the Princess too; but
he would hardly listen to them, and the most he would do was--It seems
that Steinberg is a very old favourite."

"Oh, I knew all that long ago! Why do you break off in that tantalising
way?"

"There is to be no regular court-martial, such as was to have been as
soon as the doctor said Sir Robert could bear it."

"Yes, yes."

"Oh, it's no, no, Frank. He's to be dismissed from his regiment."

"I was afraid so," cried Frank. "But to exchange into another. What
regiment is he to go in?"

Andrew was silent.

"Well, go on! Why don't you speak?" cried Frank wildly. "I asked you
what regiment he was to go in."

"No regiment at all. He's dismissed from the King's service, and he is
to leave the country. If he comes back, he is to be severely punished."

"Oh, they could not punish him more severely," cried Frank, with an
angry stamp of the foot.

"Yes, they could. His Majesty"--Andrew Forbes said the two last words
with bitter irony in his tones--"might order his execution."

"Then we are all to go away," said Frank, frowning.

"I don't know about that," replied Andrew. "But it's a good thing for
your father."

"What! A good thing?"

"Yes; to get out of the service of such a miserable usurper. If it were
not for the terrible upset to Lady Gowan, I should be ready to
congratulate her."

"That will do," said Frank sharply. "Don't get introducing your
principles here."

"Our principles," whispered Andrew, with a meaning look.

"Your principles," continued Frank, with emphasis. "I'm in no temper
for that, and I don't want to quarrel. I must go and tell her as soon
as I'm off duty. She'll be ready to hate the sight of me for always
bringing