As Colonel Fortescue would not encourage him by so much as a word, Broussard kept on: "In the Philippines, I heard some news that was enough to kill a well man, much less a man just out of jungle fever.

You perhaps remember, sir, the man Lawrence, who, I heard in the Philippines, had deserted ?" "He was supposed to have deserted," corrected the Colonel, who was always the soul of accuracy.
He glanced at Broussard's face and saw there deep agitation and distress.
"Lawrence has come back," continued Broussard.
Then he stopped, as if unable to keep on, and taking out his handkerchief, wiped away drops upon his forehead, so deadly white under his black hair.
Colonel Fortescue remained silent.

He saw that Broussard had something to tell that racked his soul.

Broussard sighed heavily, and after a pause spoke again: "I found Lawrence in San Francisco; he was trying to work his way back to Fort Blizzard.

I gave him the money to come and came here with him.