"Where is the dejeuner?" cried Hellwig. "Why have you come empty-handed? What do you mean by keeping us waiting?"
"Pardon, monsieur," faltered Granger. "I must beg messieurs to excuse me."
"Excuses! What do you mean, old fool?"
Granger's hands trembled more violently than ever. In his thin quavering voice he stammered:
"Pardon, monsieur; I am an old bird. Just before messieurs returned, parbleu! there came two cavalrymen, Uhlans, it seems, with a hunger of wolves. I explained as well as I could that the dejeuner was being prepared for two noble officers, but----"
"Well?" cried Hellwig, as the speaker paused.
"Pardon, monsieur; but they--they have eaten it all up."
"Sapperment! Where are those Uhlans?" roared Hellwig, half rising.
"They are here, monsieur. Hola!"
Kenneth and Pariset drew the curtain aside, and stepped into the room. Each held a revolver behind his back.