Kenneth, crestfallen and abashed, watched him, without attempting further interference.

Of what avail?
"You had been better advised, young sir, had you been less hasty and anxious.

It is a fatal fault of youth's, and one of which nothing but time--if, indeed, you live--will cure you.

Your anxiety touching this package determines me to open it." Kenneth sneered at the man's conclusions, and, shrugging his shoulders, turned slightly aside.
"Perchance, master wiseacres, when you have read it, you will appreciate how egotism may also lead men into fatal errors.

Haply, too, you will be able to afford Colonel Pride some satisfactory reason for tampering with his correspondence." But Hogan heard him not.