And, after all, his plotting seemed to have come to naught.

He had gone so far as to invite young Langrishe to dinner for a specific occasion, without result.

The young man had written to say that he had effected his exchange into the -- th Madras Light Infantry, and would be so very much occupied up to the time of his departure that he feared dining out was out of the question.
The General had known he was going away.

He had known it before he received that letter, before he had seen it in the Gazette.

He had known from the day the regiment had gone by without Captain Langrishe in his wonted place.