"Quite. He is waiting at the door."
"I'm sorry..." He rose. "I'll be back in a moment."
But they all followed him to the door. A Cossack orderly stood there, his horse covered with sweat and he with dust. He saluted Joseph and said in Russian:
"I was to give you this personally----"
And he produced a sealed envelope from one of his high boots.
Joseph tore it open, read the few words typed on a slip of paper inside, and turned white.
"To Hell with the war!" he cried savagely.
"What is it?" they all cried.
"I must go--at once."
"Oh--not a German advance?" asked Vanda apprehensively.