'When first I knew her.'
'Baron, you must dismiss such thoughts,' said Mrs. Deroubigne, with some dismay.
'Why, madame?' he asked, smiling.
'The young lady is engaged.'
'Engaged—is that betrothed?'
'Yes.'
His countenance changed instantly.
'To an officer—a dear friend of mine—now in Afghanistan.'
'In Afghanistan!' he repeated, angrily; 'a fiancé there is next to no fiancé at all, for a bullet may—nay,' said he, pausing, 'this thought is ungenerous of me, and I would not like another to think thus of Rolandsburg. Gott in Himmel, how unlucky I am!'
'I am so sorry to hear all this.'