"Now get your own suppers and turn in," he said. "You may be disturbed; the sneaking Englishmen are somewhere in the neighbourhood; so keep a man on guard to give warning, and post a sentry in the corridor. Send Vossling to me."
His own orderly entered. The major opened a fresh bottle, and passed it round the table; then with a "Verzeihen Sie mir" to his companions, he rose, and took the man into the passage out of earshot. Burton had slipped back into the kitchen; the passage appeared to be vacant.
A few minutes later old Pierre, his face blanched to the colour of chalk, staggered into the kitchen.
"What is the matter?" asked Burton, alarmed.
He poured out a little brandy, and held the glass to the old man's pale and quivering lips. Pierre gulped the liquid, looked around with horror in his eyes, and signed to Burton to throw the door wide open.
"They must not know, monsieur," he said in a whisper, tottering to a chair.
"What is the matter?" Burton repeated.
"I was in the passage, I heard them coming. They are not there, monsieur?"
"No, there is no one," said Burton, looking out through the open door.
"I slipped into the dark ante-room, monsieur, and hid behind the tall clock. They came in."