"Will you have the kindness to inform me, sir, upon what pretext my
reasonable request is refused?" asked Herbert, coldly.
"I deem it quite unnecessary to do so, sir," answered the Colonel,
haughtily.
"Then I have no more to do here," replied Herbert, leaving the tent.
He immediately threw himself into his saddle and rode off to the
Archiepiscopal palace of Tacubaya, where the General-in-Chief had
fixed his headquarters.
Here he had to wait some little time before he was admitted to the
presence of the gallant commander, who received him with all the
stately courtesy for which that renowned officer is distinguished.
Herbert mentioned the business that had brought him to the general's
presence, the request of a written order to see a prisoner in strict
confinement for sleeping on his post.
The commander whose kind heart was interested in the welfare of all
his soldiers, made some inquiries into the affair, of which Herbert
proceeded to give him a short history, without, however, venturing,
as yet, directly to charge the Captain or the Colonel with
intentional foul play; indeed to have attempted to criminate the
superior officers of the accused man would then have been most
unwise, useless and hurtful.
The General immediately wrote the desired order and passed it to the
young officer.
Herbert bowed and was about to retire from the room, when he was
called back by the General, who placed a packet of letters in his
hand, saying that they had arrived among his despatches, and were
for the prisoner, to whom Major Greyson might as well take them at
once.
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