Iris became even more interested.
"Colonel Costobell fell ill, and the command of the regiment devolved upon me, our only major being absent in the interior.

The Colonel's wife unhappily chose that moment to flirt, as people say, with Lord Ventnor.

Not having learnt the advisability of minding my own business, I remonstrated with her, thus making her my deadly enemy.

Lord Ventnor contrived an official mission to a neighboring town and detailed me for the military charge.

I sent a junior officer.