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"What can I do for you, sir?" asked he with great politeness. "Can I see Florestan?" "In Count de Mussidan's service, I believe?" "Just so; I have an appointment with him here." "He is downstairs in the band-room," replied the landlord. "I will send for him." "Don't trouble; I will go down," and, without waiting for permission, Mascarin descended some steps that apparently led to a cellar.
In other words, Jerry's hints became solid, and from the band-room went forth the rumour that Dick Smithson had gone down the town, been persuaded to enter one of the low-class public-houses, and had there been robbed and ill-used.
The men who had been set to work at clearing away the rubbish had soon found what a hopeless task they had undertaken; and the news having soon spread that only the regimental musicians were in the barracks at the time, and that these few had been in all probability in the lower story of the building, where the band-room was situated, all attempts at finding the bodies were abandoned until the next day.
"Morning," said Brumpton, rather gruffly, as he halted in front of Jerry, with his battered bombardon in his hand, evidently on his way from the band-room to the sergeants' quarters. "Any news? Ain't come back, I s'pose?" said Jerry. "No; he won't come back till he's brought," said Brumpton rather sternly. Then, suddenly, "I told you about my bit of a row with Wilkins?" Jerry nodded.
He started, and had just got outside the door of the band-room, when he ran against Wilkins, who turned upon him sharply "Now, sir! don't run away; I am going to try over that grand march." "Back directly, sir!" cried Dick; and, to the bandmaster's indignation, he was off as hard as he could go towards the barrack gates. "I shall be in trouble again," thought Dick; "but I can't help it!
Waiting till Wilkins was away, Jerry made his way to the band-room, where he obtained confirmation of the sergeant's remarks about the flute-case, and here he began to drop dark hints of the vaguest nature. These, however, fell upon fertile soil, and struck root, and shot up into plants at a very rapid rate.
This request was granted, and I was the following day removed to the band-room, and commenced my musical avocations; and in six months I had beaten the sides of the triangles nearly as thin as my own, and had also become a tolerable flute-player: but, as at that time we got several volunteers from the militia, among whom were two excellent flute-players, I was removed back to the drummer's room, and put to the fife.
"Here, boy," he called to Tom, who might have been detected from the fact of his being the only person present with a serious face, "run to the band-room and see if you can find the sticks." In a few minutes Tom returned with the real drumsticks, which, he said truly, he had found on the shelf where they were usually kept. After that things went on as usual; Sam played with a sulky fury.
The officers of the two regiments meant to do the thing well, cost what it might, and the invitations had been looked upon as prizes for miles round. There was an hour to wait before the first guests were likely to arrive, and Dick sat in the band-room low-spirited and dreamy; for the festivity seemed a trouble now, and he would have given anything to have been able to keep away.
Of course, he would have grown set and more manly. And oh! but it's impossible! He's dead! he's dead!" He had gone back into the band-room, where, as of old, some twenty men were blowing hard, each working up the parts of new pieces, and utterly regardless, as well as unconscious, of his neighbour use having given the bandsmen the ability to practice away deaf to the noise produced by others.
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