Frank did not understand that remark then, but he did afterward, when he was told that Colonel Vallier was a professional card sharp, and had bled Rolf Raymond for many thousands of dollars. This explained the singular friendship between the sharp old rascal and the young man.
More than that, Frank afterward learned that Colonel Vallier was not a commissioned officer, had never been such, but had assumed the title.
In many ways the man tried to imitate the Southern gentleman of the old school, but, as he was not a gentleman at heart, he was a sad failure.
All at once Frank remembered Barney, and that he had promised to stand by the Irish lad.
"Great Scott!" he cried. "Barney Mulloy is in there with that gang of raging wolves!"
"Nivver a bit av it, Frankie," chirped a cheerful voice. "Oi am here."
Down from the tree swung the fighting Irish lad, dropping beside his comrade.
"Th' craythers didn't feel loike comin' up th' shtairs inny more," Barney explained. "They seemed to hiv enough sport fer wan avenin'. Somebody shouted somethin' to thim, an' away they wint out doors, so I took to lookin' fer yez, me b'y."
"Oi looked out av th' windy, an' hearrud yer voice. Thot's whoy Oi came down. Phat has happened out here, Oi dunno?"
"Well, it's the avil wan's oun luck!" exclaimed Barney. "But av we shtay here, Frankie, it's pinched we'll be by the police as will be afther getting around boy and boy. We'd betther take a sneak."
"She ain't here inny more, me lad, an' so ye moight as well go."
Swiftly and silently they slipped away, leaving Colonel Vallier with the dead youth.
Frank was feeling disgusted and desperate, and he expressed himself freely as they made their way along the streets.
"It is voile luck," admitted Barney; "but we did our bist, an' it's a jolly good foight we had. Frankie, we make a whole tame, wid a litthle yaller dog under th' waggin."
"Oh, I can't think of anything but Inza, Inza, Inza! She----"
Out of a dark shadow timidly came a female figure.
With a cry of joy, Frank sprang forward, and clasped her in his arms, lifting her off her feet and covering her face, eyes and mouth with kisses, while he cried:
"Inza, girl! at last! at last! We fought like fiends to save you, and we thought we had failed. But now----"