"I've seen to that!"
"Then you've communicated with him?"
"No."
"Then if his regiment were to march without him--"
"It won't if I can help it!" said Kirby.
"And if you can't help it, Colonel Kirby?"
"In that case he has got what he asked for, and there can be no
charge against him until he shows up."
"I understand you have your marching orders?"
"I have sealed orders!" snapped Kirby.
"To be opened at sea?"
"To be opened when I see fit!"
"Oh!"
"Yes," said Kirby. "I asked you is Ranjoor Singh still under
suspicion!"
"My good sir, I am not the arbiter of Ranjoor Singh's destiny! How
should I know?"
"I intend to know!" vowed Kirby, rising.
"I'm prepared to state that Ranjoor Singh is not in danger of
arrest. I don't see that you have right to ask more than that,
Colonel Kirby. Martial law has been declared this morning, and things
don't take their ordinary course any longer, you know."
Kirby paced once across the office floor, and once back again. Then
he faced the man in drab as a duelist faces his antagonist.
"I don't like to go over men's heads," he said, "as you threatened
to do to me, for instance, yesterday. If you will give me
satisfactory assurance that Ranjoor Singh is being treated as a loyal
officer should be, I will ask no more. If not, I shall go now to the
general commanding.
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