This they reached just as the distant clock of Liege cathedral struck two.  A bed was given up to them, and in half an hour both lads were sound asleep.

Chapter 9:  The Duel.

Great was the excitement in the 5th Dragoons when, upon the arrival of Rupert and Hugh—­the former of whom was able to ride, but the latter was carried by on a stretcher—­they learned the attack which had been made upon one of their officers.  The “Little Cornet” was a general favourite, short as was the time since he had joined; while Hugh was greatly liked by the men of his own troop.  Rupert’s colonel at once sent for him, to learn the particulars of the outrage.  Rupert was unable to give farther particulars as to his assailants than that they were German soldiers; that much the dim light had permitted him to see, but more than that he could not say.  He stated his reasons for believing Sir Richard Fulke was the originator of the attack, since he had had a quarrel with him in England, but owned that, beyond suspicions, he had no proof.  The colonel at once rode down to headquarters, and laid a complaint before the Earl of Athlone, who promised that he would cause every inquiry to be made.  Then the general commanding the Hesse contingent was communicated with, and the colonel of the cavalry regiment to which Sir Richard Fulke belonged was sent for.

He stated that Captain Fulke had been away on leave of absence for three days, and that he had gone to England.  The regiment was, however, paraded, and it was found that five troopers were missing.  No inquiry, however, could elicit from any of the others a confession that they had been engaged in any fray, and as all were reported as having been in by ten o’clock, except the five missing men, there was no clue as to the parties engaged.  The five men might have deserted, but the grounds for suspicion were very strong.  Still, as no proof could be obtained, the matter was suffered to drop.

The affair caused, however, much bad feeling between the two regiments, and the men engaged in affrays when they met, until the order was issued that they should only be allowed leave into the town on alternate days.  This ill feeling spread, however, beyond the regiments concerned.  There had already been a good deal of jealousy upon the part of the Continental troops of the honour gained by the British in being first in at the breaches of Venloo and Liege, and this feeling was now much embittered.  Duels between the officers became matters of frequent occurrence, in spite of the strict orders issued against that practice.

As Rupert had anticipated, the letter by which he had been entrapped turned out a forgery.  Lord Fairholm was extremely indignant when he heard the use that had been made of his name, and at once made inquiries as to the trooper who had carried the note to Rupert.  This man he found without difficulty; upon being questioned, he stated that he had just returned from carrying a message when he was accosted by a German officer who offered him a couple of marks to carry a letter up to an officer of the 5th dragoons.  Thinking that there was no harm in doing so, he had at once accepted the offer.  Upon being asked if he could recognize the officer if he saw him, he replied that he had scarcely noticed his face, and did not think that he could pick him out from others.