"I said it and I will stick to it. I am quite confident that you will save him."
"I save him?" cried the General, opening wide his blue eyes with amazement; "it is impossible."
"I believe that General Vértessy, that rigorous, inflexible man, whom his admirers and his detractors alike called 'the man of iron,' who has never relaxed the rule of discipline to favour friend or kinsman, will do everything in his power to make an exception for once in his life, and save the son of his enemy from the rigour of the law. Oh! I know this gentleman right well, I am confident that so he will act."
"It is impossible, impossible; if he were my own brother I would not save him in his unfortunate position."
"A brother you could not save, I'll allow; but this youth—oh, yes! I am persuaded that you will not be satisfied till you have devised some method of saving this unfortunate youth."
And in saying this, she knew right well how to read the very depths of the heart and mind of the man of iron.
The General impatiently quitted his wife's room, but the moment he had crossed its threshold, there was not a trace of impatience to be seen on his face.
The orderly was still standing in the ante-chamber and, turning on his heels in the direction of the General, presented to him the sealed dispatch which he had thrust into his bosom.
It was the official report of the arrest of the deserter.
The General made a sign to the soldier that he might depart.