Arrived here, he sat by the kitchen stove and warmed himself, and learning, by some remark of Tonie's, that the family had not yet dined, he declared himself extremely hungry, and asked permission to join them in their repast. The dinner basket was accordingly unpacked, and the food shared among the four hungry people, Blonda adding some barley coffee and goat's milk as a treat in honour of the special occasion. The young general ate up his hunch of black bread to the last crumb, and thanked his host for the most delightful repast he had enjoyed for long enough.
Then he sat and chatted with the family for some time, asking many questions and showing a real interest in the replies given. At last, pulling out his watch, he declared it as time for him to go.
"But first, Grubert Reuss," said he, "I have a very pleasant duty to perform. In remembrance of thy little daughter's service to me this day, I ask thee to accept this pocket-book of Russian notes. The banker at Klingengolf will readily change them for thee into Finnish money. And as for my little maid with the forget-me-not eyes, let me give thee, child, something which may be of use to thee some day. I am much at the Court in St. Petersburg, and have some little influence there. If ever thou or thine, or any in whom thou mayest be interested, should be in trouble, apply to me, and I pledge myself to help thee, granting thee any boon thou dost ask, if it be but in my power."
So saying, the young general wrote a few words on a piece of paper (which he tore out of a memorandum-book), folded it small, then asked for a candle, and producing a bit of red wax, he proceeded to seal the letter, leaving upon the hot wax the impression of his great signet-ring. Lastly, he addressed it to General Nicolai, Winter Palace, St. Petersburg, and handing it to Blonda, told her to keep it safely, as she might want it some day. Then he took a kindly leave of her, and, accompanied by Grubert and Tonie, he started for Carfoos to join his party.
[CHAPTER IX]
A MISER ROBBED
FRESKEL VALDEN did not return with the hunting party to Carfoos, nor did he go home with Grubert, his children and his guest. He managed to slip away unobserved, and betook himself to several different places in the forest where he had set traps and snares. In one of these he found a cock-of-the-woods, in another a hare, which he hid away in some secret nook known only to himself, there to await his convenience in the matter of carrying them home or to Pastor Oshart.
He had some food in his pocket, with which to satisfy the cravings of hunger. And as soon as it was dark, (which at this season was before four o'clock in the afternoon), he turned his steps towards the lake, and reaching its margin, took a long, careful look round, then crossed over at a rapid run, and was soon hidden in the shadow of the rocky island.
As for Grubert, Tonie and Blonda, they spent the rest of the day very happily, the two former making and carving things out of wood, the latter mending her father's and brother's garments. But they had much to talk over, much to plan, for the present General Nicolai had given them amounted to 200 roubles—about £20 of our money—a very large sum to people accustomed to handle only a small weekly wage, barely sufficient for the simplest daily requirements.