A girlish woman was waiting for Marie within the hall, and the two exchanged kisses on the cheek with sedate and tender courtesy.
"Welcome home, madame."
"Home is more welcome to me because I find you in it, Antonia. Has anything unusual happened in the fortress while I have been setting monsieur on his way?"
"This morning, about dawn, I heard a great tramping of soldiers in the hall. One of the women told me prisoners had been brought in."
"Yes. The Swiss said he had news. And how has the Lady Dorinda fared?"
"Well, indeed. She has described to me three times the gorgeous pageant of her marriage."
They had reached the fireplace, and Marie laughed as she warmed her hands before a pile of melting logs.
"Give our sea-tossed bundle and its mother a warm seat, Zélie," she said to her woman.
The unknown girl was placed near the hearth corner, and constrained to take upon her knees an object which she held indifferently. Antonia's eyes rested on her, detecting her half-concealed face, with silent disapproval.
"We found a child on this expedition."