"I ain't put it in yet," he stammered feebly.
"Don't put it in, then. Leave the reservation to-night. You understand
me, do you? Now go!"
Lawton set down the candle upon the desk, and crept away by the rear
door.
After he had gone, Landor turned to Brewster once more. "Are all the
bids in the safe again?"
They were.
"Is it closed?"
It was.
"Give me the keys--all the keys."
He handed them over.
Ellton stood by the door, with his hands in his pockets, and a
countenance that tried hard to maintain the severity of discipline. But
he was plainly enjoying it.
"Now, Mr. Brewster," said Landor, going to the safe and resting his
elbow upon it, and leaning forward in his earnestness, "I am going to
tell you what you are to do. It would be better for the service and for
all concerned if you do it quietly. I think you will agree with me, that
any scandal is to be avoided. Come to the opening of the bids to-morrow,
at noon, quite as though nothing of this disgraceful sort had happened.
I will keep the keys until then. But by retreat to-morrow evening I want
your resignation from the service in the hands of the adjutant. If it is
not, I shall prefer charges against you the next morning. But I hardly
think you will deem it advisable to stand a court-martial." He stopped
and stood erect again.
Brewster started to protest, still with the almost unmoved countenance
of an innocent man. At any rate, he was not an abject, whining
scoundrel, thought Ellton, with a certain amount of admiration.
Landor held up a silencing hand. "If you have any explanations that you
care to make, that it would be worth any one's time to listen to, you
may keep them for a judge advocate." He pointed to the door.
Brewster hesitated for a moment, then walked out, a little unsteadily.
They blew out the candle and took down the gray blanket. "A stone can
have broken that pane, and I cut my hand on a bottle," said Landor.
Ellton answered "Very good," and they went out, locking the door.