I opened my eyes again, saying, "Klapka is shut up in Comorn."
"So the Austrians thought till the general taught them better. The day you were being beaten at Debreczin he came out of the fortress, smashed the Austrians, chased them to Presburg, took a thousand prisoners, thirty pieces of cannon, and enough ammunition to last him a year."
"Well done, Klapka!" I cried delightedly.
"Of course it won't make any difference in the end," said Mecsey composedly; and his words were like a douche of cold water.
"Go away, you rascal!" I cried. "But no; tell me first what became of Dembinski after he was driven from Szegedin."
"I don't know. Perhaps he's trying to join the general at Arad."
"If so, we still have a chance. Now help me to dress; we must find our way back to the army."
"Not to-day," replied Mecsey, "nor to-morrow. The next day, perhaps, if you're stronger. Just at present, twenty miles in the saddle would leave you weaker than a child."
This was perfectly true, and I let Mecsey have his own way.
So for three days longer I lay in my comfortable bed, waited on by Mecsey and the good woman of the house, whose husband and two sons were in Görgei's army--at least she hoped so.