"I have no intention of remaining a moment absent from my duty, if I can help it!" said I, energetically.
"So we must get you smuggled back to your own lines somehow--unless you consent to become a prisoner of war."
"I have already given my parole of honour."
"Indeed! to whom?"
"To the Hospoza Volhonski," said I, laughing.
"More binding, perhaps, than if given to me; yet as I don't wish to avail myself of your promises to Valerie, but for the memory of past times," he added, with a pleasant smile, "to see you safe among your friends, I must contrive some plan to get you hence without delay."
"Why such inhospitable haste?" asked Valerie.
"Think of the peril to him and to us of being discovered here--and in that dress, too!"
"I fear I shall not be able to ride for days," said I, despondingly, as sensations of lassitude stole over me.
"I fear that with Valerie for your nurse, you may never return to health at all," said Volhonski, laughing, as he knew well the coquettish proclivities of his sister; "hence, to insure at least convalescence, I must commit you to the care of old Yourivitch or Madame Tolstoff."