CHAP.
I. [WE TAKE THE FIELD AGAIN]
II. [THE TWO PRESENTIMENTS]
III. [BATTLE OF MINDEN]
IV. [PRINCE XAVIER OF SAXONY]
V. [THE BRIDGE OF FREYENTHAL]
VI. [LES VOLONTAIRES DE CLERMONT]
VII. [THE DUC DE BROGLIE]
VIII. [AN OLD FRIEND ARRIVES]
IX. [MONJOY]
X. [THE STORY OF MONJOY]
XI. [A SAD CONCLUSION]
XII. [THE FROZEN FORD]
XIII. [LAST OF THE EMERALD RING]
XIV. [THE WHISPERED ORDER]
XV. [THE DEAD HUSSAR]
XVI. [ARNAUD DE PRICORBIN]
XVII. [THE HEIGHTS OF CORBACH]
XVIII. [A NIGHT ATTACK]
XIX. [IN LONDON AGAIN]
XX. [THE DRAWING-ROOM]
XXI. [COUSIN AURORA]
XXII. [THE LAST]
SECOND TO NONE.
CHAPTER I.
WE TAKE THE FIELD AGAIN.
While we were in quarters at Paderborn, a mixed detachment (composed of men for various corps) arrived to join the army, and with it came Major Shirley, looking quite the same as when I had seen him last, on the morning we marched from Wadhurst—his uniform new and spotless, his aiguilettes glittering, his wellfitting gloves of the whitest kid, above which he wore pearl rings; his hair curled and perfumed, with his handsome figure, suave and courtly bearing, his sinister and unfathomable smile.
He was one of those lucky fellows who have mysterious interest (feminine probably) at head-quarters, and who, whether at home or abroad, are always on the staff, and never with their regiments; thus he had been appointed extra aide-de-camp to Lord George Sackville, and thus we chanced to meet on the day of his arrival at an old windmill which did duty as a staff-office for the British head-quarters.
"Did you see my cousin, Miss Gauntlet, before leaving England?" I inquired, though in reality caring little whether he had or not.
"Oh yes, frequently—especially when I was last in London; she is the reigning toast at White's and elsewhere."
"She was well, I hope?" said I, dryly.