"I do not know; but my brother,"—he suddenly stopped with ill-concealed embarrassment.
"Your brother!" suggested the young man.
"Nothing—I made a mistake; do not attach to what I say to you a sense which cannot be true; I am frequently subject to make mistakes."
"Are there any difficulties in your granting me the safe conduct?"
"I do not see any; however, I should not dare to do so without informing my brother."
"Do not distress yourself about that; I have no intention of leaving the camp without his authority; if you like we will go together to find him."
"You are then in a hurry to depart?"
"To a certain extent; it would be better, I think, if I could go away without seeing these ladies, and before them. In this way I should avoid the request they would not fail to make, to accompany them."
"That would indeed be better."
"Then come and find your brother, in order to settle the affair as soon as possible."