After him Sir Derby entered, and presently emerged from the same
apartment, where he also cased himself in his little shell-jacket, which
fitted tightly upon the young officer's big person; and which he, and
Miss Fotheringay, and poor Pen too, perhaps, admired prodigiously.
Meanwhile conversation was engaged between the actress and the new-comer;
and the usual remarks about the weather had been interchanged before
Costigan re-entered in his new 'Shoot,' as he called it.
"I needn't apologoise to ye, Meejor," he said, in his richest and most
courteous manner, "for receiving ye in me shirt-sleeves."
"An old soldier can't be better employed than in teaching a young one the
use of his sword," answered the Major, gallantly. "I remember in old
times hearing that you could use yours pretty well, Captain Costigan."
"What, ye've heard of Jack Costigan, Major," said the other, greatly.
The Major had, indeed; he had pumped his nephew concerning his new
friend, the Irish officer; and whether he had no other knowledge of the
Captain than what he had thus gained, or whether he actually remembered
him, we cannot say.
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