Those lessons given to the lieutenant were the plus to the minus of Dick
Smithson's existence, for the young officer grew daily more friendly and
confidential. He chatted about his brother-officers and the dinner
parties to which he was invited, rapidly forgetting the gap between them
in their military status so long as they were alone, and insisted upon
paying liberally for each lesson as it was given.
This Dick felt at first disposed to resent, but the lieutenant looked at
him with so much surprise that he ended by taking his professional fee,
and no more was ever said upon that point.
One day there was a scented note upon the table; another day, in a
bashful, girlish way, which accorded strangely with the young officer's
great, manly aspect, there was a hint let fall; and before long Dick
smiled to himself as he felt certain that he had been right in his guess
as to the purpose for which the lessons were being taken.
Then came a morning when Dick walked across the barrack yard, thinking
of how thoroughly he had obliterated himself from the memory of all who
knew him, and the past from his own. But, as he approached the
lieutenant's quarters, he drove these thoughts away and ascended the
stairs, to stop on the landing, for he could hear a voice talking
loudly.
"Company!" thought Dick, and he was about to turn back, but the voice
rose higher, and he became aware of the fact that there was what an
Irishman would call "a one-sided quarrel" going on. As he came close to
the door this became more evident, for he could hear the lieutenant,
striding about the room, storming angrily.
"Joe Todd seems to have fetched himself hot water this morning," said
Dick to himself, for Lacey was calling his servant by every name
suggestive of stupidity that he could think of, but all in the most
calmly, dignified manner.
"I beg your pardon, Smithson," he said, as the man left the room. "I
ought not to go on like that, but the fellow really is beyond bearing.
I can't trust him to do a single thing. He either forgets or does it
wrong. He burns my wet boots; he folds my clothes so that they are
always in creases; he leaves the stopper out of my scent; upsets the
scented bear's grease over my dress-clothes; and--and--Oh, I can't think
of half the mischief he has done! Oh, dear me! there never was a man
worried as I am.--Now, about this duet, Smithson. Do you think we can
manage?--the fact is, I want it for a serenade on Friday night."
"If you will only play it as well, sir, as you did at the last lesson,
it will be all right," said Dick, smiling to himself.
"Think so? I'm afraid I must seem very stupid to you, Smithson--such a
musician as you are. Really, you are a mystery to me."
Dick made no reply.
"There, I beg your pardon, Smithson; it's just as if I were trying to
pump you about your past, and I assure you I did not mean to. It would
be so ungentlemanly."
"Lieutenant Lacey is always gentlemanly to me," said Dick, quietly.
"Well, so are you to me, Smithson. Really, I begin to look upon you as
quite a friend."
"It is very kind of you, sir."
"Well, it's your way, Smithson. Never had lessons in music before
without the fellow I took them of trying to make all the money he could
out of me, bothering me to buy pieces of music, or instruments, or
something. Well, let's begin. But one moment, Smithson; you really are
keeping this a profound secret--I mean about the serenade?"
"I wish you would have a better opinion of me, sir," said Dick.
"I couldn't--I couldn't, really, Smithson," cried the lieutenant; "but
the fact is, I am so nervous about it. If it were known in the
regiment, I should never hear the last of it."
"It will not be known through me, sir," said Dick, quietly, as he
arranged a couple of pieces of music on the stands.
"Of course, it will not, Smithson," cried the lieutenant, rather warmly.
"You see, I'm afraid I'm rather weak, and the fellows like to chaff me.
I don't mind much; but I can't help wishing Nature had made me less
good-looking and given me some more brains."
Dick glanced at the fine, handsome fellow, and the lieutenant caught his
eye.
"Ah! now you're going to laugh at me because I talked about being
good-looking."
"Why should I?" said Dick, honestly. "You are the best-looking fellow--
I beg pardon, sir, the best-looking officer--in the regiment."
"I am," said the lieutenant, frankly, "and the biggest and strongest, as
I've often proved; but what's the good of that, Smithson, when you're
the greatest duffer? The colonel and the major both like me."
"And there isn't a man in the regiment who wouldn't do anything for you,
sir."
"I suppose not, Smithson; but, as I was going to say, if the colonel and
the major didn't like me, I should always be in hot water, for I'm
horribly stupid over the movements.--Ready?"
"Quite, sir."
"Then let's begin. There! I've forgotten it all, and I get so nervous
my fingers grow quite damp. Now, then, to begin."
Dick beat a bar, raised his flute, and blew a note.
"I beg your pardon," said the lieutenant; "I was not quite ready.
Again, please."
A fresh start was made, and in his nervousness the officer was too soon.
Then a couple more starts were made, and the lieutenant laid down his
flute.
"It's no good!" he cried, pitifully. "I always seem to make a fool of
myself in everything I attempt."
"You only want confidence, sir," said Dick. "Try again."
The flute was taken up, and, after a good many stumbles, the duet was
run through very badly.
"I think you had better play the first part, and I'll take the second,
Smithson."
"But you have studied the first part, sir, and you don't know anything
about the second."
"No," said the lieutenant, plaintively; "but if the second broke down,
it wouldn't be of so much consequence. Look here, Smithson, you are so
strong at all this sort of thing; couldn't you give me a lift with a
note or two?--I shall only break down."
"You will not break down, sir," cried Smithson. "You said Friday night,
didn't you?"
"Yes, Friday; but that's an unlucky day, isn't it?"
"Old women say so, sir; and I've been as unfortunate on other days. You
shall do it somehow. I'll make you."
"Thank you, Smithson. But I'm afraid she will not think much of it."
"Why not, sir? The duet is sweetly pretty, and music sounds very soft
and attractive in the silence of the night."
"To be sure--so it does!"
"And if the lady cares for you, she is certain to be pleased."
"Yes, Smithson; but I don't know that she does. Now let's rest for a
few minutes. It's so awkward for that fellow to have upset me just
before I had my music lesson. I wish I knew of a good man; I'd give
anything for him."
The Friday night came, and at a time appointed Dick crossed the barrack
yard, to find it soft, delicious, and summer-like, starry but dark, and
with a feeling in the air which accorded well with the mission they were
on.
On reaching the lieutenant's room, he found him impatiently walking up
and down, smoking a cigarette--the ends of half a dozen more lying on
the fire-grate ornament.
"Come--come, Smithson! you are late," cried the young officer
impatiently. "It will be so vexatious to find nobody stirring. People
do go to sleep when they are in bed."
"Generally, sir. But you said half-past ten, to be the time."
"Yes; and for you to be here by ten."
"Exactly, sir; but I thought I would get here half an hour sooner, in
case you liked to try through the piece before we started."
"Eh? What time is it, then?"
"Just about to chime half-past nine, sir."
Dick had hardly uttered the words before the barrack clock chimed twice.
"Surely that's not half-past ten," cried the lieutenant excitedly, as he
snatched out his watch. "Dear me, no! I'm an hour out in my
calculations. Yes; let's try over the piece."
The flutes were produced, and the duet was whispered through, as it
were; and at the end Dick applauded softly.
"Yes, that's very kind of you," said Lacey; "but I don't feel satisfied.
By the way, Smithson, you must not go like that. Your red jacket will
be so conspicuous."
"What can I do, sir?"
"Would you mind wearing one of my light overcoats, Smithson? It will be
rather large for you, but so effectual in hiding your military
character."
"I shall not mind it," said Dick, though he could not help wincing a
little at the idea; and soon after, with his scarlet jacket hidden by
the lieutenant's long, loose garment, which also well concealed the
musical instruments, they walked together through the gates.
Fifty yards farther on, Dick felt his shoulder suddenly seized, and he
was thrust through a swing-door into the gas-lit glare of a public-house
bar.