"How?"
"My brother will now be safe, and I hope that they will keep him so till this horrible and most unjust war is over."
"Unjust! how is it so?" I asked, laughing.
"Can it be otherwise, when it is waged against holy Russia and our good father the Czar?"
I afterwards learned that Volhonski had been taken prisoner in that affair which occurred on the night of Sunday, the 14th January, when the Russians surprised our people in the trenches, and captured one officer and sixteen men of the 68th, or Durham Light Infantry, into whose hands Volhonski fell, and was disarmed and taken at once to the rear.
"I am so happy," continued Valerie, clapping her hands like a child, "though it may be long, long ere I see him again, my dear Paulovitch! He will be taken to England, of course."
"Should you not like to join him there?" I asked, softly. "Yes, but I cannot leave Russia."
"Why?"
"Do not ask me; but we may keep you as a hostage for him," she added, merrily; "do you agree?"
"Can I do otherwise?" said I, tenderly and earnestly.