"It would not please you, then, to know where Harry Feversham has been,
and how he has lived during the last five years?"
There was a pause--not a long pause, but still a pause--before General
Feversham answered:--
"Not in the least, Colonel Durrance."
The answer was uncompromising, but Durrance relied upon the pause which
preceded it.
"Nor on what business he has been engaged?" he continued.
"I am not interested in the smallest degree. I do not wish him to
starve, and my solicitor tells me that he draws his allowance. I am
content with that knowledge, Colonel Durrance."
"I will risk your anger, General," said Durrance. "There are times when
it is wise to disobey one's superior officer. This is one of the times.
Of course you can turn me out of the house. Otherwise I shall relate to
you the history of your son and my friend since he disappeared from
England."
General Feversham laughed.
"Of course, I can't turn you out of the house," he said; and he added
severely, "But I warn you that you are taking an improper advantage of
your position as my guest."
"Yes, there is no doubt of that," Durrance answered calmly; and he told
his story--the recovery of the Gordon letters from Berber, his own
meeting with Harry Feversham at Wadi Halfa, and Harry's imprisonment at
Omdurman.
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