Sandford; "that is all."
"Will you come and walk with me?" said Preston, almost
angrily.
"I do not think it would be pleasant," I said.
"You were walking yesterday afternoon."
"Yes!"
"Come and walk up and down the piazza, anyhow. You can do
that."
I could, and did not refuse. He chose the sunny western side,
because no one was there. However, the sun's rays were
obscured under a thick haze and had been all day.
"Whom were you with?" Preston enquired, as soon as we were out
of earshot.
"Do you mean yesterday?"
"Of course I mean yesterday! I saw you cross in to the camp.
With whom were you going there?"
"Why did you not come to speak to me?" I said.
"I was on duty. I could not."
"I did not see you anywhere."
"I was on guard. You crossed my path not ten feet off."
"Then you must know whom I was with, Preston," I said, looking
at him.
"_You_ don't know — that is the thing. It was that fellow
Thorold."
"How came you to be on guard again so soon? You were on guard
just a day or two before.
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