We came on him from behind, and, I suppose, suddenly.
Anyhow, we scared him. I never saw such a face in my life as he turned
on us! It went all white in an instant, and then slowly whiter.
No doubt our dress was unusual: but I'm not accustomed to be taken for a
ghost--'
"'Was it _you_ who frightened him?'
"'Yes, I think so. He kept his eyes on me, anyway: and at first, when
Felicia asked him to congratulate her, he didn't seem to hear. After a
bit, however, he picked up his speech and muttered something about fate,
and wishing her joy--I forget what. Felicia confessed afterwards that
his face had fairly frightened her.'
"'Look here,' I asked; 'it may seem an irrelevant question, but has the
2-th made any changes in its uniform lately?--any important changes, I
mean.'
"'No: the War Office has been obliging enough to leave us alone in that
respect: out of sight out of mind, I suppose. In point of fact we've
kept the same rig--officers and men--for something like a quarter of a
century.' He paused. 'I see what you're driving at. The man, you
think, may be an old deserter!'
"'Not so fast, please. Now here's another question. You remember the
night after the wreck of the _Nerbuddha_: the night you took a turn in
Lansulyan Church, watching the bodies? You came to me in the morning
with a story which I chose to laugh at--'
"'About the face at the window, you mean?' Dick gave a mock shudder.
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