But Roland brought his amazement to a climax when he told him of the night he had spent at the Chartreuse of Seillon, and of what had happened to Sir John at that same Chartreuse during the succeeding night.
The captain had heard by common rumor that Madame de Montrevel's guest had been stabbed; but as no one had lodged a complaint, he did not think he had the right to investigate circumstances which it seemed to him Roland wished to keep in the dark.

In those troublous days more indulgence was shown to officers of the army than they might have received at other times.
As for Roland, he had said nothing because he wished to reserve for himself the satisfaction of pursuing the assassins and sham ghosts of the Chartreuse when the time came.

He now arrived with full power to put that design into execution, firmly resolved not to return to the First Consul until it was accomplished.

Besides, it was one of those adventures he was always seeking, at once dangerous and picturesque, an opportunity of pitting his life against men who cared little for their own, and probably less for his.

Roland had no conception of Morgan's safe-guard which had twice protected him from danger--once on the night he had watched at the Chartreuse, and again when he had fought against Cadoudal.