"
"But how came this young gentleman of birth and expectations to be
found in the ranks?" inquired Captain Rosencrantz.
"How came we to have headstrong sons of wealthy parents, fast young
men of fortune, and runaway students from the universities and
colleges of the United States in our ranks? In a burst of boyish
impatience the youth enlisted. Destiny gave him as the Colonel of
his regiment his mortal enemy. Colonel Le Noir found in Captain
Zuten a ready instrument for his malignity. And between them both
they have done all that could possibly be effected to defeat the
good fortune and insure the destruction of Traverse Rocke. And I
repeat, gentlemen, that what I feel constrained to affirm here in
the absence of those officers, I shall assuredly reassert and
maintain in their presence, upon the proper occasion. In fact I
shall bring formal charges against Colonel Le Noir and Captain
Zuten, of conduct unworthy of officers and gentlemen!"
"But it seems to me that this is not directly to the point at
issue," said Captain Kingsley.
"On the contrary, sir, it is the point, the whole point, and only
point, as you shall presently see by attending to the facts that I
shall recall to your memory. You and all present must, then, see
that there was a deliberate purpose to effect the ruin of this young
man. He is accused of having been found sleeping on his post, the
penalty of which, in time of war, is death.
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