Konski, who was already deep in the recesses of box number two, believed he had not heard aright. He lifted his head out of the box and looked in amazement at his master.
"To-morrow, sir? I thought we were to stay a week at the least."
"Do what I bid you."
Konski replaced, the shirts which he was holding in the portmanteau and rose hastily from his knees. His master was evidently in a very bad temper; "but that kind of thing never lasts long with him," Konski was saying to himself, "and then the champagne ..."
Aloud he said-- "You can be sure, sir, that there won't be much trouble about the officers who are going to be quartered here. I know all about it from Mamsell Christine. Only a colonel, a major, a couple of captains, and some six lieutenants or so, and perhaps a surgeon-major. None of our princes, and certainly none of theirs. A mere handful for a large place like this; they'll be lost, like currants in a bun. And you can remain in these rooms, where we always have been, and you'll see none of them, for I don't suppose they'll have this blessed manœ vre in the garden below."
"I do not know at, all what you want with your everlasting manœ vres," Bertram exclaimed angrily.
He had gone back, to the open window, through which there came a strong current of air. Konski went and closed the door of the adjoining room, then stepped up to within a certain respectful distance of his master, and said modestly, lowering his voice--
"I beg your pardon, sir, but what does it matter, after all, if Miss really comes ..."
"What do you mean?" Bertram said without turning round. "What has that to do with my going or staying? Why should the little one not come?"
Konski rubbed up his stiff black hair with a certain sly smile, and said--