"Ah! here comes my young friend who lost his way in the dark."
There was a laugh at this, which made me hot and angry; but Stephen's behaviour was, to my thinking, admirable.
His face was very white, and his lips twitched a little, but he spoke quite calmly.
"Count Beula," he said, "permit me to add my congratulations to those of your brother officers. What you did last night will never be forgotten by this army. We are not good friends, you and I, but that doesn't prevent me from admiring your bravery. Last night I failed to keep my promise; next time I may be more successful."
"Well spoken!" said Rakoczy, and a familiar voice behind us echoed the words.
The second speaker was Görgei himself, who had come from his tent in time to hear what was said.
The count smiled, showing his white teeth.
"Captain Botskay must have been terribly annoyed at finding himself out of reach of danger," he said sweetly.
Here again it was impossible to take offence at his words, though they might, and most likely did, convey a false meaning.
Görgei, however, came handsomely to the rescue.