Bending over him and speaking quietly, his lordship said that which brought a moisture to the eyes of Sir Terence and a smile to his pale lips.

What actually were his lordship's words may be gathered from the answer he received.
"Ye're entirely wrong, then, and it's mighty glad I am.

For now I need no longer hand you my resignation.

I can be invalided home." So he was; and thus it happens that not until now--when this chronicle makes the matter public--does the knowledge of Sir Terence's single but grievous departure from the path of honour go beyond the few who were immediately concerned with it.

They kept faith with him because they loved him; and because they had understood all that went to the making of his sin, they condoned it.
If I have done my duty as a faithful chronicler, you who read, understanding too, will take satisfaction in that it was so..