You must not think me a disloyal friend; and even with the Major--I did not tell you he had become quite a friend of ours--Major Chevenix, I mean--he has taken such a fancy to Ronald! It was he that brought the news to us of that hateful Clausel being captured, and all that he was saying.

I was indignant with him.

I said--I dare say I said too much--and I must say he was very good-natured.

He said, "You and I, who are his friends, _know_ that Champdivers is innocent.

But what is the use of saying it ?" All this was in the corner of the room in what they call an aside.