Well! Do you know what's the matter with my ankle?
Look!" He stopped and, with some difficulty and invincible gravity, throwing aside his dressing-gown, turned down his stocking, and exposed to Paul's gaze the healed cicatrix of an old bullet-wound.

"Troubled me damnably near a year.

Where I hit HIM--hasn't troubled him at all since! "I think," continued the colonel, falling back upon the pillow with an air of relief, "that he told others--of his own kidney, sir,--though it was a secret among gentlemen.

But they have preferred to be silent now--than AFTERWARDS.

They know that I'm ready.