As officers of the same regiment, I think Wickham and Denny knew each other's habits well enough. However, if Denny was a few years younger than Wickham, say 17 or 18, this young fellow could easily be suspectible to Wickham- wasn't everyone? Your little dialogue seems plausible. Actually, my very first thought on Denny's smile was he's thinking on Wickham's town business, 'in the know.' I daresay younger officers living closely together, gambling and drinking all knew each other's circumstances and habits moderately well. So when Wickham was first missed around camp, Denny may well have dropped a similar line spontaneously to RGP. (LOL! 'He's no more in love with Lydia than I am with my horse.' I'd love to know her reaction to that!) Was I too hard to call Denny a slacker? Especially if he's a younger chap. Wickham hasn't been a good influence on him. I doubt he's a rotter, just inexperienced and abit weak. If he knew nothing more than what he supposed about Wickham's charecter without having Wickham's confidence, then Denny was not in an easy position when questioned by Colonel Forster.