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France！ And yet I should be disingenuous if I did not own this was
a case apart； in ordinary circumstances； some one might have
stumbled or been intimidated into an admission； and what bound us
together with a closeness beyond that of mere comrades was a secret
to which we were all committed and a design in which all were
equally engaged。 No need to inquire as to its nature： there is
only one desire； and only one kind of design； that blooms in
prisons。 And the fact that our tunnel was near done supported and
inspired us。
I came off in public； as I have said； with flying colours； the
sittings of the court of inquiry died away like a tune that no one
listens to； and yet I was unmasked … I； whom my very adversary
defended； as good as confessed； as good as told the nature of the
quarrel； and by so doing prepared for myself in the future a most
anxious； disagreeable adventure。 It was the third morning after
the duel； and Goguelat was still in life； when the time came round
for me to give Major Chevenix a lesson。 I was fond of this
occupation； not that he paid me much … no more； indeed； than
eighteenpence a month； the customary figure； being a miser in the
grain； but because I liked his breakfasts and （to some extent）
himself。 At least； he was a man of education； and of the others
with whom I had any opportunity of speech； those that would not
have held a book upsidedown would have torn the pages out for pipe…
lights。 For I must repeat again that our body of prisoners was
exceptional： there was in Edinburgh Castle none of that educational
busyness that distinguished some of the other prisons； so that men
entered them unable to read； and left them fit for high
employments。 Chevenix was handsome； and surprisingly young to be a
major： six feet in his stockings； well set up； with regular
features and very clear grey eyes。 It was impossible to pick a
fault in him； and yet the sum…total was displeasing。 Perhaps he
was too clean； he seemed to bear about with him the smell of soap。
Cleanliness is good； but I cannot bear a man's nails to seem
japanned。 And certainly he was too self…possessed and cold。 There
was none of the fire of youth； none of the swiftness of the
soldier； in this young officer。 His kindness was cold； and cruel
cold； his deliberation exasperating。 And perhaps it was from this
character； which is very much the opposite of my own； that even in
these days； when he was of service to me； I approached him with
suspicion and reserve。
I looked over his exercise in the usual form； and marked six
faults。
'H'm。 Six；' says he； looking at the paper。 'Very annoying！ I can
never get it right。'
'Oh； but you make excellent progress！' I said。 I would not
discourage him； you understand； but he was congenitally unable to
learn French。 Some fire； I think； is needful； and he had quenched
his fire in soapsuds。
He put the exercise down； leaned his chin upon his hand； and looked
at me with clear； severe eyes。
'I think we must have a little talk；' said he。
'I am entirely at your disposition；' I replied； but I quaked； for I
knew what subject to expect。
'You have been some time giving me these lessons；' he went on； 'and
I am tempted to think rather well of you。 I believe you are a
gentleman。'
'I have that honour； sir；' said I。
'You have seen me for the same period。 I do not know how I strike
you； but perhaps you will be prepared to believe that I also am a
man of honour；' said he。
'I require no assurances； the thing is manifest；' and I bowed。
'Very well； then；' said he。 'What about this Goguelat？'
'You heard me yesterday before the court；' I began。 'I was
awakened only … '
'Oh yes； I 〃heard you yesterday before the court；〃 no doubt；' he
interrupted； 'and I remember perfectly that you were 〃awakened
only。〃 I could repeat the most of it by rote； indeed。 But do you
suppose that I believed you for a moment？'
'Neither would you believe me if I were to repeat it here；' said I。
'I may be wrong … we shall soon see；' says he； 'but my impression
is that you will not 〃repeat it here。〃 My impression is that you
have come into this room； and that you will tell me something
before you go out。'
I shrugged my shoulders。
'Let me explain；' he continued。 'Your evidence； of course； is
nonsense。 I put it by； and the court put it by。'
'My compliments and thanks！' said I。
'You MUST know … that's the short and the long；' he proceeded。
'All of you in shed B are bound to know。 And I want to ask you
where is the common…sense of keeping up this farce； and maintaining
this cock…and…bull story between friends。 Come； come； my good
fellow； own yourself beaten； and laugh at it yourself。'
'Well； I hear you； go ahead；' said I。 'You put your heart in it。'
He crossed his legs slowly。 'I can very well understand；' he
began； 'that precautions have had to be taken。 I dare say an oath
was administered。 I can comprehend that perfectly。' （He was
watching me all the time with his cold； bright eyes。） 'And I can
comprehend that； about an affair of honour； you would be very
particular to keep it。'
'About an affair of honour？' I repeated； like a man quite puzzled。
'It was not an affair of honour； then？' he asked。
'What was not？ I do not follow；' said I。
He gave no sign of impatience； simply sat awhile silent； and began
again in the same placid and good…natured voice： 'The court and I
were at one in setting aside your evidence。 It could not deceive a
child。 But there was a difference between myself and the other
officers； because I KNEW MY MAN and they did not。 They saw in you
a common soldier； and I knew you for a gentleman。 To them your
evidence was a leash of lies； which they yawned to hear you
telling。 Now； I was asking myself； how far will a gentleman go？
Not surely so far as to help hush a murder up？ So that … when I
heard you tell how you knew nothing of the matter； and were only
awakened by the corporal； and all the rest of it … I translated
your statements into something else。 Now； Champdivers；' he cried；
springing up lively and coming towards me with animation； 'I am
going to tell you what that was； and you are going to help me to
see justice done： how； I don't know； for of course you are under
oath … but somehow。 Mark what I'm going to say。'
At that moment he laid a heavy； hard grip upon my shoulder； and
whether he said anything more or came to a full stop at once； I am
sure I could not tell you to this day。 For； as the devil would
have it； the shoulder he laid hold of was the one Goguelat had
pinked。 The wound was but a scratch； it was healing with the first
intention； but in the clutch of Major Chevenix it gave me agony。
My head swam； the sweat poured off my face； I must have grown
deadly pale。
He rem