It was almost eight o'clock, and Herbert thought that he would
scarcely have time to find Traverse before the drum should beat to
quarters.
He was more fortunate than he had anticipated, for he had scarcely
turned the Grand Cathedral when he came full upon the young ensign.
"Ah! Traverse, I am very glad to meet you! I was just going to look
for you. Come immediately to my rooms, for I have a very important
communication to make to you. Colonel Le Noir is supposed to be
dying. He has given me a parcel to be handed to you, which I
shrewdly suspect to contain your intercepted correspondence for the
last two years," said Herbert.
Traverse started and gazed upon his friend in amazement, and was
about to express his astonishment, when Herbert, seeing others
approach, drew the arm of his friend within his own, and they
hurried silently on toward Major Greyson's quarters.
They had scarcely got in and closed the door and stricken a light
before Traverse exclaimed impatiently:
"Give it me!" and almost snatched the parcel from Herbert's hands.
"Whist! don't be impatient! I dare say it is all stale news!" said
Herbert, as he yielded up the prize.
They sat down together on each side of a little stand supporting a
light.
Herbert watched with sympathetic interest while Traverse tore open
the envelope and examined its contents.
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