"
"I saw the regiments pass at a distance," the colonel said, "and they
marched in good order, too, which is more than I have seen any other
Portuguese troops do. Now you mention it, I did see an officer, in what
looked like a British uniform, riding with the men, but it was too far off
to see what branch of the service he belonged to. That was you, was it?"
"That was me, sure enough, Colonel."
"And what were you doing there? Tell us, like a good boy."
"Absurd as it may appear, and, indeed, absurd as it is, I am in command of
those two regiments."
Again a burst of incredulous laughter arose. Terence took out his
commission and handed it to the colonel.
"Perhaps, Colonel, if you will be kind enough to read that out loud, my
assurance will be believed."
"Faith, it was not your assurance that we doubted, Terence, me boy!"
O'Grady exclaimed. "You have plenty of assurance, and to spare; it is the
statement that we were doubting."
The colonel glanced down the document, and his face assumed an expression
of extreme surprise.
"Gentlemen," he said, rising, "if you will endeavour to keep silence for a
minute, I will read this document."
The surprise on his own face was repeated on the faces of all those
present, as he proceeded with his reading. O'Grady was the first to break
the silence.
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