"At this rate, your highness, it will soon appear that the town was captured by these heroes," chuckled a grizzled veteran.
I concluded that the speaker was of high rank, as every one laughed at his remark, as if he had said something witty.
They were still enjoying the joke when the door opened and another officer entered the room.
He was a man past the prime of life, with grey hair and white moustaches, but alert, strong, and vigorous. His sight was keen, his bearing martial, and the deep scars of two wounds long since healed bore witness to his courage as a soldier.
His entrance attracted notice, and the prince himself stepped forward to greet him.
The others withdrew a little way, leaving the two chiefs together, and they immediately began talking very earnestly. From time to time they both looked at us, and gradually a pleasant smile spread over the prince's face.
At length the conversation was finished, and the prince, turning to his staff, said,--
"Gentlemen, we owe these brave Hungarians an apology for our suspicions. Instead of aiding the rebels, they have acted in a very noble manner, and to them Baron von Arnstein is indebted for the lives of his wife and daughter.--Baron, these gentlemen are no longer our prisoners; I wish they could be counted amongst our friends."
"That would follow naturally," said Rakoczy, "if every Austrian were a Prince Windischgratz."
"I cannot accept the compliment; it would be unfair to my brave colleagues," the general replied. "However, I can thank you all three for your generous behaviour, which I do most heartily."