He was just undoing the last button, when Theodore came in with a card on a silver salver, announcing 'der Herr Capitan Guebhard;' and the figure of the latter was now seen looming darkly in the doorway, as he took in the whole situation and advanced slowly, with his spurs and sabre clanking.
'Playing with hearts, as usual,' said he, with a laugh that had no sound in it, as he took her hand and bowed curtly to Cecil.
'How dare you say so!' she replied, while a flush crossed her face, and an expression of irritation came into it for a moment.
After a little pause, the visitor said, after she requested him to be seated:
'I have just heard from old Theodore of what had befallen the Herr Lieutenant. I have also heard, but at head-quarters, that he has important despatches from the King to General Tchernaieff. There was a fear that you had lost your way, or fallen into the enemy's hands, and I volunteered to come in search of you.'
'For that I thank you, Captain Guebhard; and as for the despatches——
'You will please to hand them over to me.'
'Pardon me,' said Cecil, and paused, while a dark gleam crossed the eyes of Guebhard.
'How is your arm—well, I suppose?' he asked, with the slightest approach to a sneer.
'If well, I should not be loitering at Palenka.'