Vavel hastened to shake hands with the bearer of these glad tidings, who was, however, more eager to kiss the hand of Vavel's partner, and to inquire:
"I hope I find the ladies perfectly comfortable?"
"Very comfortable indeed," replied madame. "Messieurs les Cannibales are very polite, and leur Catzique plays an excellent hand at piquet."
"And where is mademoiselle? I trust she is not suffering from the fatigue of the journey?"
"Oh, no; she is very well. She is making her toilet, and will soon join us. I hope we shall leave here very soon."
Madame now rose, and left the two soldiers alone in the room.
"Here," observed the French captain, handing Vavel a paper, "is the sauf conduit."
The pass contained the information that "Vavel de Versay, expatriated French nobleman and magnate of Hungary, together with the Countess Themire Dealba (alias Baroness Katharina Landsknechtsschild) and Sophie Botta (pretended Princess Marie Charlotte Capet), with attendants, were to be allowed to travel unmolested by any French troops they might chance to meet."
Ludwig Vavel looked at this document a long time.
"Do you doubt the assurance of a French officer, monsieur?" asked the captain.