Part 37 (1/2)
”I am greatly obliged to you, General,” he said; ”but I do not at all feel that the services that I have tried to perform----”
”That is for me to judge,” the general said, kindly. ”All the officers here quite agree with me, that those services have been very marked and exceptional and are at one with me as to how they should be recognized. Moreover, in obtaining for you the rank of colonel in the Portuguese army, I am not only recognizing those services, but am adding to the power that you will have of rendering further services to the army. Although attached to our forces, you will receive your colonel's commission from Lord Beresford, who is now the general appointed by the Portuguese government to command their army.”
It was now late, and the party rose. All of them shook hands warmly with Terence, who retired with his friend Captain Nelson. The latter told him before they went in to dinner that he had had a bed put up for him in his own room.
”Well, Colonel O'Connor,” Nelson laughed, ”you must allow me to be the first to salute you as my superior officer.”
”It is absurd altogether,” Terence said, almost ruefully. ”Still, Captain Nelson, though I may hold a superior rank in the Portuguese army, that goes for very little. I have seen enough of Portuguese officers to know that even their own soldiers have not got any respect for them, and in our own army I am only a lieutenant.”
”That is so, lad; however, there was never promotion more deserved. And as you hung, or rather left to be hung, a Portuguese colonel, it is only right that you should supply the deficiency.”
”I hope I shall not have to wear a Portuguese uniform,” Terence said, earnestly.
”I should think not, O'Connor, but I will ask the general in the morning. Of course, you will not wear your present uniform, because you are now gazetted into the staff and out of your own regiment. Now we will smoke a quiet cigar before we turn in. Have you any other story to tell me that you have not already related?”
”Well, yes, I have one, but it is only of a personal interest;” and he then gave an account of his discovery of his cousin in the convent at Oporto, and how he had managed to rescue her, ending by saying: ”I have told you the story, Nelson, so that if by any unexpected accident it is found out that she is an escaped nun, and her friends appeal to the general for protection, you may be aware of the circ.u.mstances, and help.”
”Certainly I will do so,” Captain Nelson said, warmly. ”You certainly have a wonderful head for devising plans.”
”I began it early,” Terence laughed. ”I was always in mischief before I got my commission, and I suppose that helps me; but you see I had wonderful luck.”
”I don't say anything against your luck; but good luck is of no use unless a fellow knows how to take advantage of it, and that is just what you have done. I suppose that you will stay here for a day or two.”
”My horse wants a couple of days' rest, and I have my uniform to get. I suppose I can get one made in a couple of days, whether it is a Portuguese or an English one.”
”Yes, I dare say you will be able to manage that.”
The next morning, to his great satisfaction, Terence learned that the general said he had better wear staff uniform, and he accordingly went with Captain Nelson and was measured.
”Your Portuguese seems to have improved amazingly in the two months you have been away,” the latter said, as they came out from the shop; ”you seem to jabber away quite fluently.”
”I have been talking nothing else, and Herrara has acted as my instructor, so I get on very fairly now.”
At this moment a carriage drove past them.
”That is the Bishop of Oporto,” said Terence; ”I suppose he has just arrived.”
”It is a good thing that he does not know you as well as you know him,” Captain Nelson said, dryly; ”if he did, your adventures would be likely to be cut short by a knife between your shoulders some dark night.”
”He does not know me at all,” Terence laughed; ”the advantages are all on my side in the present case.”
”It is an advantage,” Captain Nelson laughed. ”When I think that you have raised your hand against that venerable but somewhat truculent prelate, I shudder at your boldness. I only caught a glimpse of him as he pa.s.sed, but I could see that he looks rather scared.”
”Perhaps he hasn't recovered yet from the fright I gave him,” laughed Terence; ”I have seen and heard enough of his doings, and paid him a very small instalment of the debt due to him.”
The uniforms were promised for the next evening, and Terence felt when he put them on that they were a considerable improvement upon his late one, stained and discoloured as it was by wet, mud, and travel. After paying a visit to the general to say good-bye, Terence mounted and started for Coimbra.
Upon his arrival there four days later he at once reported himself to the commandant.