"I enlisted, you know, a couple of years before he was gazetted to the corps."
"Do they know you took the shilling?--that you are now a colour-sergeant in the Royal Picts?"
"I don't think they are aware of my existence even."
"Well, never mind. Don't be cast down. The time may come when they will be proud to recognise you. It all depends upon yourself?"
"I will do all I know to force them, you may be sure."
"And you will have your chance, in a great war like this which is coming. Everything is possible to a man whose heart is in the right place. You have pluck and spirit."
"Trust me, Hyde; I sha'n't flinch, if I only get the chance."
"You are well educated; you can draw; you have picked up Spanish since you have been here; and I suppose you inherit a taste for languages from your Polish father?"
"I don't know; at any rate, I can talk French fluently, and I speak Russian of course."
"Why, man! the game is positively in your own hands. You are bound to get on: mark my words."
"Not if we stay here, Hyde, keeping guard upon this old Rock and losing all the fun. Can you wonder why I am so anxious the regiment should get the route?"
"It will come, never fear. They will want every soldier that carries a musket before this war is over, or I'm a much-mistaken man. Only have patience."
"How can I? I am eating my heart out, Hyde."
"Was it to tell me this you came down here? What brings you to Waterport this morning? Only to gossip with me?"
"That, and something more. I am on duty, detailed as orderly sergeant to one of the Expeditionary Generals; he is just going to land from a yacht in the bay."
"Yes, Wilders--another of my fine cousins. You can understand now why I am so bitter against my relations to-day: there are too many of them about."
"I suppose that is what's brought our Mr. Wilders here to-day--to meet his cousin."
"And his brother; for they are on board Lord Lydstone's yacht."
"General Wilders has his wife with him, I believe, accompanying him to the East."
"Old idiot! Why couldn't he leave her at home? Women are in the way at these times. Soldiers have no business with wives."
"That's why you never married, I suppose?"
Hyde did not answer his question, but got up and left his comrade abruptly, to re-enter the guard-room.