'A likely story, truly,' said Tchernaieff, with growing indignation; 'why ford a river that has bridges, and why the devil ford it at all, before coming to the town of Tjuprija?'
'I lost the direct road and fell into the river in the night. The family of the Count——'
'Knew not that they were harbouring a traitor,' said Palenka, grimly.
'A traitor, Herr Count!' exclaimed Cecil.
'I have said it; so don't repeat my words.'
'There must be some strange misconception in all this,' replied Cecil, more bewildered than indignant, perhaps; 'the way was beset——'
'By Captain Mattei Guebhard,' interrupted Tchernaieff.
'You know it!'
'From his own lips. He is now in camp, and very properly and duly reported to me that he had done so; but that you escaped him, he knows not how, after killing one of his men, and causing, by misadventure, the death of another.'
Cecil was more and more bewildered by the strange candour of Guebhard in acknowledging the outrageous conduct of which he had been guilty; but the injurious treatment now so unexpectedly accorded him, after all he had undergone, filled him with just anger and indignation.