"
"Have you the letter of challenge that Captain Bezan sent?"
"Excellency, yes."
"I will see it."
"Excellency, at your pleasure," said the general, hoping not to have
been obliged to show this document.
"Now, if you please, general."
"At once, excellency."
General Harero produced the letter, and handed it with something
very like a blush tinging his sunburnt check, to his
commander-in-chief. Tacon read it slowly, pausing now and then to
re-read a line, and then, remarked, as he slowly folded it up once
more:
"A love affair."
"Why, your excellency will easily understand that the young officer
has dared to lift his eyes to one above his rank, and she cares
nothing for him. His causes for complaint are all imaginary."
"Well, be this as it may, in that I shall not interfere. He has been
guilty of a serious breach of discipline and must suffer for it. You
may take the necessary steps at once in the matter, general."
"Excellency, yes," said General Harero, hastening away with secret
delight, and at once taking such measures as should carry out his
own wishes and purposes.
The result of the matter was, that before ten o'clock that morning
the note conveying the challenge was answered by an aid-de-camp and
a file of soldiers, who arrested Captain Bezan for insubordination,
and quietly conducted him to the damp underground cells of the
military prison, where he was left to consider the new position in
which he found himself, solitary and alone, with a straw bed, and no
convenience or comfort about him.
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