“‘I have thought of that, Signor Andrea,’ he answered quickly; ‘I am not one to forget my friends. When you leave the château of Jézero, it shall not be empty-handed. And you may count upon me always——’
“Our discourse was cut short at this point by the return of another of the woodlanders, who had ridden out towards Travnik in the hope of finding Christine. He now came galloping over the grass of the park, and many ran out to meet him, crying for his news.
“‘Hast thou heard of her? Surely I see that thou hast tidings! Saints and angels! who shall tell the Lord Count? You have learnt nothing? May the day be black that she passed the gates!’
“The man rode on, regardless of these cries from the grooms and the women, and drew rein only at the door of the château.
“‘I have been sixteen hours in the saddle,’ he said to the priest, ‘and have learnt nothing. There was a strange woman passed through Jajce this morning, and an Italian with her; but she had rags about her legs. Mehmed Bey, who rode by here at sunset yesterday, saw my lady standing by the thicket at the turn of the path. She had a rosary in her hand, and her eyes were towards the town. She was still there when dark came down and hid her from his sight. Holy God! that I must tell it to my master!’
“There was a little crowd round the man before he had done; and when his message was delivered the women fell to wailing again and the grooms to cursing. All these, excellency, had learnt love for her whose presence had breathed so sweet an influence in the house of the Zaloskis. They mourned for her as one of their own; they trembled when they asked each other what saying must come to the Count’s ears. No sooner did one of them ride into the park than another was upon his horse, galloping swiftly through the bridle-track of the woods, or spurring again to the house of the Prefect. Nor did they rest, night or day, until their master stood again in the great courtyard of the house, and the terrible moment of speaking was at hand.
“He had driven over from the station at Travnik, for there was no railway then to Jajce, and dark was upon the château when we heard the bells of his horses. I can remember well that he wore the blue uniform of his hussar regiment, and that his cloak was open and loose and his cap somewhat over his face when he stepped from the carriage and stood for a minute in the courtyard, where we were drawn up, with torches in our hands, awaiting him. I had hoped that he would have called me from the company and have spoken with me first—for a groom had already whispered that he had heard the tidings—but he did not so much as notice me.
“‘Where is Hans?’ he asked, casting a quick glance over the throng.
“The steward stepped forward and bent low.
“‘My Lord Count,’ he murmured, ‘blame me not——’