Part 41 (1/2)
Our re collection of cannon had been packed here with their appendancies, and I was threading h them to the far side of the square, where stands Exeter House, and ithin a flick of a pebble of it, when the Colonel ran out, bareheaded and eager, and ca! What's happened?” said he
”I've lost my hat, sir,” I replied
”Lost your--Damme! I'll have you court-martialled yet before I've done with you Off you coon and co The Prince saw you fro, Noll! Fancy a town the size of this and not a da in it!”
I hurried after hi was in hand beyond a doubt, for hall and stairs were thronged with groups of Highland leaders, and in one set, soilvie The Colonel took no notice of the curious looks that were cast upon us, particularly me, but, after a ith the chief on duty, usheredshort turns up and down near the hearth, but stopped as I bowed before him
”You've failed me!” he said bitterly
”I have carried out your Royal Highness's coret, not punctually, but every hour I a on your business, sir, I have ridden up to the foot of the gallows”
I spoke quietly but crisply, for I would not be girded at unjustly, no, not by a prince He took enerously, ”As I knew you would, Master Wheatman, if need were”
The noble panelled roo table andAt the o other men stood in earnest conversation, and these, as I learned later, were the Irishmen, Sir Thomas Sheridan and Colonel O'Sullivan
”Leave your dispatch, Mr Secretary, and coentle near the fire and the four leaders ranged behind hiless from their point of view As I had expected, there was noits effect on him I had indeed, coether and said lightly, ”Well, gentlemen, if the ainstpoint in your favour, sir,” said O'Sullivan
”When I've thrashed the Duke and got into London,” said Charles, buoyed up at once by any straw of comfort, ”they'll be round ht, but Master Wheathland dress”
”I applaud the decision of Your Royal Highness,” said the foxy secretary
”It is a merited compliment to your brave clans some of the best of them
”Now for your dispatch to the Marquis,” said Charles, going towards the secretary's papers ”There's time to look at it before Murray and his supports arrive” O'Sullivan walked softly to one of the s overlooking the square, and we followed hio on”
”It is,” said the Colonel, tapping at his box ”damn this rappee, Oliver
I'd as lief sniff at sawdust”
”But if the Prince wants to go on, I back him up,” added O'Sullivan
”So do I,” said Sir Thomas
”So do I,” echoed the Colonel, ”but, damme, I shall tell him the precise truth about the military aspect of the situation One's my duty as a soldier just as , but be damned if I want my reputation to die with me The most you can say of rappee, Oliver, is that it's better than nothing”
”That's just what I've been thinking, sir,” said I, with equal gravity, ”about aret, you young dog, but she's bound to tellto her clatter about getting s She nearly prated the top of ht till I'd told her for the seventeenth time that there was no need to worry about you Seventeen tiorous sniff and a merry twinkle--”I counted 'em”
It was obvious nonsense, but it pained me
”It was very kind of her, sir,” I said at last