“Then you forget,” persisted Mathilde, “that Charles is on the staff. They may arrive to-night.”
While they were speaking Sebastian came in. He looked quickly from one to the other.
“You have heard the news?” he asked.
“That the General is coming back?” said Mathilde.
“No; not that. Though it is true. Macdonald is in full retreat on Dantzig. The Prussians have abandoned him—at last.”
He gave a queer laugh and stood looking towards the window with restless eyes that flitted from one object to another, as if he were endeavouring to follow in mind the quick course of events. Then he remembered Desiree and turned towards her.
“Rapp returns to-morrow,” he said. “We may presume that Charles is with him.”
“Yes,” said Desiree, in a lifeless voice.
Sebastian wrinkled his eyes and gave an apologetic laugh.
“We cannot offer him a fitting welcome,” he said, with a gesture of frustrated hospitality. “We must do what we can. You and he may, of course, consider this your home as long as it pleases you to remain with us. Mathilde, you will see that we have such delicacies in the house as Dantzig can now afford—and you, Desiree, will of course make such preparations as are necessary. It is well to remember, he may return... to-night.”