“Begyourpardon，Sir。”saidtheBand-Sergeant，“buttheskeletoniswithme，an’I’llreturnitifyou’llpaythecarriageintotheCivilLinesThere’sacoffinwithit，Sir。”
Hogan-YalesmiledandhandedtworupeestotheBand-Sergeant，saying：——“Writethedateontheskull，willyou？”
Ifyoudoubtthisstory，andknowwheretogo，youcanseethedateontheskeletonButdon’tmentionthemattertotheWhiteHussars。
Ihappentoknowsomethingaboutit，becauseIpreparedtheDrum-
HorseforhisresurrectionHedidnottakekindlytotheskeletonatall。
THEBRONCKHORSTDIVORCE-CASE。
Inthedaytime，whenshemovedaboutme，Inthenight，whenshewassleepingatmyside，——
Iwaswearied，Iwasweariedofherpresence。
DaybydayandnightbynightIgrewtohateher——
WouldtoGodthatsheorIhaddied！
Confessions。
TherewasamancalledBronckhorst——athree-cornered，middle-agedmanintheArmy——grayasabadger，and，somepeoplesaid，withatouchofcountry-bloodinhimThat，however，cannotbeproved。
MrsBronckhorstwasnotexactlyyoung，thoughfifteenyearsyoungerthanherhusbandShewasalarge，pale，quietwoman，withheavyeyelids，overweakeyes，andhairthatturnedredoryellowasthelightsfellonit。
BronckhorstwasnotniceinanywayHehadnorespectfortheprettypublicandprivateliesthatmakelifealittlelessnastythanitisHismannertowardshiswifewascoarseTherearemanythings——includingactualassaultwiththeclenchedfist——thatawifewillendure；butseldomawifecanbear——asMrsBronckhorstbore——
withalongcourseofbrutal，hardchaff，makinglightofherweaknesses，herheadaches，hersmallfitsofgayety，herdresses，herqueerlittleattemptstomakeherselfattractivetoherhusbandwhensheknowsthatsheisnotwhatshehasbeen，and——worstofall——
thelovethatshespendsonherchildrenThatparticularsortofheavy-handedjestwasspeciallydeartoBronckhorstIsupposethathehadfirstslippedintoit，meaningnoharm，inthehoneymoon，whenfolkfindtheirordinarystockofendearmentsrunshort，andsogototheotherextremetoexpresstheirfeelingsAsimilarimpulsemake’samansay：——“Hutt，youoldbeast！”whenafavoritehorsenuzzleshiscoat-frontUnluckily，whenthereactionofmarriagesetsin，theformofspeechremains，and，thetendernesshavingdiedout，hurtsthewifemorethanshecarestosayButMrsBronckhorstwasdevotedtoher“teddy。”asshecalledhim。
PerhapsthatwaswhyheobjectedtoherPerhaps——thisisonlyatheorytoaccountforhisinfamousbehaviorlateron——hegavewaytothequeersavagefeelingthatsometimestakesbythethroatahusbandtwentyyears’married，whenhesees，acrossthetable，thesamefaceofhisweddedwife，andknowsthat，ashehassatfacingit，somusthecontinuetosituntildayofitsdeathorhisown。
MostmenandallwomenknowthespasmItonlylastsforthreebreathsasarule，mustbea“throw-back“totimeswhenmenandwomenwereratherworsethantheyarenow，andistoounpleasanttobediscussed。
DinnerattheBronckhorst’swasaninflictionfewmencaredtoundergoBronckhorsttookapleasureinsayingthingsthatmadehiswifewinceWhentheirlittleboycameinatdessert，Bronckhorstusedtogivehimhalfaglassofwine，andnaturallyenough，thepoorlittlemitegotfirstriotous，nextmiserable，andwasremovedscreamingBronckhorstaskedifthatwasthewayTeddyusuallybehaved，andwhetherMrsBronckhorstcouldnotsparesomeofhertimetoteachthe“littlebeggardecency。”MrsBronckhorst，wholovedtheboymorethanherownlife，triednottocry——herspiritseemedtohavebeenbrokenbyhermarriageLastly，Bronckhorstusedtosay：——“There！That’lldo，that’lldoForGod’ssaketrytobehavelikearationalwomanGointothedrawing-room。”
Mrs。
Bronckhorstwouldgo，tryingtocarryitalloffwithasmile；andtheguestoftheeveningwouldfeelangryanduncomfortable。
Afterthreeyearsofthischeerfullife——forMrsBronckhorsthadnowoman-friendstotalkto——theStationwasstartledbythenewsthatBronckhorsthadinstitutedproceedingsONTHECRIMINAL
COUNT，againstamancalledBiel，whocertainlyhadbeenratherattentivetoMrsBronckhorstwhenevershehadappearedinpublicTheutterwantofreservewithwhichBronckhorsttreatedhisowndishonorhelpedustoknowthattheevidenceagainstBielwouldbeentirelycircumstantialandnativeTherewerenoletters；butBronckhorstsaidopenlythathewouldrackHeavenandEarthuntilhesawBielsuperintendingthemanufactureofcarpetsintheCentralJailMrs。
Bronckhorstkeptentirelytoherhouse，andletcharitablefolkssaywhattheypleasedOpinionsweredividedSometwo-thirdsoftheStationjumpedatoncetotheconclusionthatBielwasguilty；butadozenmenwhoknewandlikedhimheldbyhimBielwasfuriousandsurprisedHedeniedthewholething，andvowedthathewouldthrashBronckhorstwithinaninchofhislifeNojury，weknew，couldconvictamanonthecriminalcountonnativeevidenceinalandwhereyoucanbuyamurder-charge，includingthecorpse，allcompleteforfifty-fourrupees；butBieldidnotcaretoscrapethroughbythebenefitofadoubtHewantedthewholethingcleared：butashesaidonenight：——“Hecanproveanythingwithservants’evidence，andI’veonlymybareword。”Thiswasaboutamonthbeforethecasecameon；andbeyondagreeingwithBiel，wecoulddolittleAllthatwecouldbesureofwasthatthenativeevidencewouldbebadenoughtoblastBiel’scharacterfortherestofhisservice；forwhenanativebeginsperjuryheperjureshimselfthoroughlyHedoesnotboggleoverdetails。
Somegeniusattheendofthetablewhereattheaffairwasbeingtalkedover，said：——“Lookhere！Idon’tbelievelawyersareanygoodGetamantowiretoStrickland，andbeghimtocomedownandpullusthrough。”
StricklandwasaboutahundredandeightymilesupthelineHehadnotlongbeenmarriedtoMissYoughal，buthescentedinthetelegramachanceofreturntotheolddetectiveworkthathissoullustedafter，andnextnighthecameinandheardourstoryHefinishedhispipeandsaidoracularly：——wemustgetattheevidence。
Ooryabearer，Mussalmankhitandmethraniayah，Isuppose，arethepillarsofthechargeIamoninthispiece；butI’mafraidI’mgettingrustyinmytalk。”
HeroseandwentintoBiel’sbedroomwherehistrunkhadbeenput，andshutthedoorAnhourlater，weheardhimsay：——“Ihadn’tthehearttopartwithmyoldmakeupswhenImarriedWillthisdo？”
Therewasalothelyfaquirsalaaminginthedoorway。
“Nowlendmefiftyrupees。”saidStrickland，“andgivemeyourWordsofHonorthatyouwon’ttellmyWife。”
Hegotallthatheaskedfor，andleftthehousewhilethetabledrankhishealthWhathedidonlyhehimselfknowsAfaquirhungaboutBronckhorst’scompoundfortwelvedaysThenamehterappeared，andwhenBielheardofHIM，hesaidthatStricklandwasanangelfull-fledgedWhetherthemehtermadelovetoJanki，Mrs。
Bronckhorst’sayah，isaquestionwhichconcernsStricklandexclusively。
Hecamebackattheendofthreeweeks，andsaidquietly：——“Youspokethetruth，BielThewholebusinessisputupfrombeginningtoendJove！ItalmostastonishesME！ThatBronckhorst-beastisn’tfittolive。”
Therewasuproarandshouting，andBielsaid：——“Howareyougoingtoproveit？Youcan’tsaythatyou’vebeentrespassingonBronckhorst’scompoundindisguise！”
“No。”saidStrickland“Tellyourlawyer-fool，whoeverheis，togetupsomethingstrongabout’inherentimprobabilities’and’discrepanciesofevidence。’Hewon’thavetospeak，butitwillmakehimhappyI’Mgoingtorunthisbusiness。”
Bielheldhistongue，andtheothermenwaitedtoseewhatwouldhappenTheytrustedStricklandasmentrustquietmenWhenthecasecameofftheCourtwascrowdedStricklandhungaboutintheverandahoftheCourt，tillhemettheMohammedankhitmatgar。
Thenhemurmuredafaquir’sblessinginhisear，andaskedhimhowhissecondwifedidThemanspunround，and，ashelookedintotheeyesof“EstreekenSahib。”hisjawdroppedYoumustrememberthatbeforeStricklandwasmarried，hewas，asIhavetoldyoualready，apoweramongnativesStricklandwhisperedarathercoarsevernacularproverbtotheeffectthathewasabreastofallthatwasgoingon，andwentintotheCourtarmedwithaguttrainer’s-whip。
TheMohammedanwasthefirstwitnessandStricklandbeameduponhimfromthebackoftheCourtThemanmoistenedhislipswithhistongueand，inhisabjectfearof“EstreekenSahib“thefaquir，wentbackoneverydetailofhisevidence——saidhewasapoormanandGodwashiswitnessthathehadforgotteneverythingthatBronckhorstSahibhadtoldhimtosayBetweenhisterrorofStrickland，theJudge，andBronckhorsthecollapsed，weeping。
ThenbeganthepanicamongthewitnessesJanki，theayah，leeringchastelybehindherveil，turnedgray，andthebearerlefttheCourtHesaidthathisMammawasdyingandthatitwasnotwholesomeforanymantolieunthriftilyinthepresenceof“EstreekenSahib。”
BielsaidpolitelytoBronckhorst：——“Yourwitnessesdon’tseemtoworkHaven’tyouanyforgedletterstoproduce？”ButBronckhorstwasswayingtoandfroinhischair，andtherewasadeadpauseafterBielhadbeencalledtoorder。
Bronckhorst’sCounselsawthelookonhisclient’sface，andwithoutmoreado，pitchedhispapersonthelittlegreenbaizetable，andmumbledsomethingabouthavingbeenmisinformedThewholeCourtapplaudedwildly，likesoldiersatatheatre，andtheJudgebegantosaywhathethought……
Bielcameoutoftheplace，andStricklanddroppedaguttrainer’s-
whipintheverandahTenminuteslater，BielwascuttingBronckhorstintoribbonsbehindtheoldCourtcells，quietlyandwithoutscandalWhatwasleftofBronckhorstwassenthomeinacarriage；andhiswifeweptoveritandnurseditintoamanagain。
Lateron，afterBielhadmanagedtohushupthecounter-chargeagainstBronckhorstoffabricatingfalseevidence，Mrs。
Bronckhorst，withherfaintwaterysmile，saidthattherehadbeenamistake，butitwasn’therTeddy’sfaultaltogetherShewouldwaittillherTeddycamebacktoherPerhapshehadgrowntiredofher，orshehadtriedhispatience，andperhapswewouldn’tcutheranymore，andperhapsthemotherswouldlettheirchildrenplaywith“littleTeddy“againHewassolonelyThentheStationinvitedMrs。
Bronckhorsteverywhere，untilBronckhorstwasfittoappearinpublic，whenhewentHomeandtookhiswifewithhim。
Accordingtothelatestadvices，herTeddydid“comebacktoher。”andtheyaremoderatelyhappyThough，ofcourse，hecanneverforgiveherthethrashingthatshewastheindirectmeansofgettingforhim……
WhatBielwantstoknowis：——“Whydidn’tIpresshomethechargeagainsttheBronckhorst-brute，andhavehimrunin？”
WhatMrsStricklandwantstoknowis：——“HowDIDmyhusbandbringsuchalovely，lovelyWalerfromyourStation？IknowALLhismoney-affairs；andI’mCERTAINhedidn’tBUYit。”
WhatIwanttoknowis：——HowdowomenlikeMrsBronckhorstcometomarrymenlikeBronckhorst？”
Andmyconundrumisthemostunanswerableofthethree。
VENUSANNODOMINI。
Andtheyearswentonastheyearsmustdo；
ButourgreatDianawasalwaysnew——
Fresh，andblooming，andblonde，andfair，Withazureeyesandwithaureatehair；
Andallthefolk，astheycameorwent，Offeredherpraisetoherheart’scontent。
DianaofEphesus。