But is it ever
taken advantage of? Is there a case on record where a private
soldier ventures to make a dangerous enemy of his immediate superior
by complaining of his Captain to his Colonel? Nor in this case would
it have been of the least use, inasmuch as this soldier had well-
founded reasons for believing the Colonel of his regiment his
personal enemy, and the Captain as the instrument of this enmity."
"And you, Major Greyson, do you coincide in the opinion of the
prisoner? Do you think that there could have been anything in common
between the Colonel of the regiment and the poor private in the
ranks, to explain such an equalizing sentiment as enmity?" inquired
Captain O'Donnelly.
"I answer distinctly, yes, sir! In the first place, this poor
private is a young gentleman of birth and education, the heir of one
of the most important estates in Virginia, and the betrothed of one
of the most lovely girls in the world. In both these capacities he
has stood in the way of Colonel Le Noir, standing between him and
the estate on the one hand, and between him and the young lady on
the other. He has disappointed Le Noir both in love and ambition.
And he has thereby made an enemy of the man who has, besides, the
nearest interest in his destruction. Gentlemen, what I say now in
the absence of Colonel Le Noir, I am prepared to repeat in his
presence, and maintain at the proper time and place.
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