One of Our Conquerors - World eBook Library

One of Our Conquerors
nursery of our soldiers.’
‘We are taking them out of the nursery, Skips, if you ‘re for
quoting Captain Dartrey,’ said Nesta. ‘We’ll never haul down
our flag, though, while we have him!’
‘Ah! Captain Dartrey!’ Skepsey was refreshed by the invocation
of the name.
A summons to his master’s presence cut short something
he was beginning to say about Captain Dartrey.
CHAPTER XVI
ACCOUNTS FOR SKEPSEY’S MISCON-
DUCT, SHOWING HOW IT AFFECTED
NATALY
HIS MASTER opened on the bristling business.
‘What’s this, of your name in the papers, your appearing
before a magistrate, and a fine? Tell the tale shortly.’
Skepsey fell upon his attitude for dialectical defence the
modest form of the two hands at rolling play and the head
deferentially sidecast. But knowing that he had gratified his
personal tastes in the act of serving his master’s interests, an
interfusion of sentiments plunged him into self-consciousness;
an unwonted state with him, clogging to a simple story.
‘First, sir, I would beg you to pardon the printing of your
name beside mine …’
‘Tush: on with you.’
‘Only to say, necessitated by the circumstances of the case.
I read, that there was laughter in the court at my exculpation
of my conduct—as I have to call it; and there may have been.
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