My apparent rashness of last night was pure prudence." Raimbaut's eye twinkled with suppressed irony.

"No doubt!" said he; "no doubt!" The impassive colonel would not notice the other's irony; he went calmly on:-- "I suspected something; I went to confute, or confirm that suspicion.

I confirmed it." Rat! tat! tat! tat! tat! tat! tat! was heard a drum.

Relieving guard in the mine.
Colonel Dujardin interrupted himself.
"That comes apropos," said he.

"I expect one proof more from that quarter.