However, I will say nothing about it."
At nine o'clock, an orderly came to the hut with a message that the
colonel wished to speak to Lieutenant Carstairs. Harry gave his
friend a comical look, as the latter rose and buckled on his sword.
"What is the joke, Harry?" his father asked, when Charlie had left.
"Do you know what the colonel can want him for, at this time of the
evening? It is not his turn for duty."
"I know, father; but I must not say."
"The lad has not been getting into a scrape, I hope?"
"Nothing serious, I can assure you; but really, I must not say
anything until he comes back."
Harry's positive assurance, as to the impossibility of changing the
king's decision, had pretty well dispelled any hopes Charlie might
before have entertained, and he entered the colonel's room with a
grave face.
"You know why I have sent for you, Carstairs?"
"Yes, sir; I am afraid that I do."
"Afraid? That is to say, you don't like it."
"Yes, sir; I own that I don't like it."
"Nor do I, lad, and I told his majesty so. I said you were too
young for so risky a business. The king scoffed at the idea. He
said, 'He is not much more than two years younger than I am, and if
I am old enough to command an army, he is old enough to carry out
this mission.
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