Not that he had gone directly to the West after the mustering out of his regiment.

To the contrary, his first abode had been in the city of New York, where during his brief stay he acquired a certain acquaintance.

Colonel Battersleigh was always a striking figure, the more so by reason of his costume, which was invariably the same.

His broad cavalry hat, his shapely varnished boots, his gauntlets, his sweeping cloak, made him fairly historic about the clubs.

His air, lofty, assured, yet ever suave, showed that he classified himself cheerfully as being of the natural aristocracy of the earth.