The reading of Zdena's extraordinary production had so absorbed his attention that he had failed to hear the approach of some heavy vehicle which had drawn up before the castle, or the rhythmic beat of the hoofs of two riding-horses. Now he was suddenly startled by a firm step to the accompaniment of a low jingling sound in the corridor outside his room-door, at which there came a knock.
"Come in!" he called out.
A young officer of hussars in a blue undress uniform entered.
"Harry! is it you?" the major exclaimed, cordially. "Let me have a look at you! What has put it into your head to drop down upon us so unexpectedly, like the deus ex machinâ in the fifth act of a melodrama?"
The young fellow blushed slightly. "I wanted to surprise you," he said, laughing, in some confusion.
"And you will stay a while with us? How long is your leave?"
"Six weeks."
"That's right. And you're glad to be at home once more?" said the major, smiling broadly, and rubbing his hands.
He seemed to his nephew to be rather distrait, which he certainly was, for all the while he was thinking of matters of which no mention was made.
"My uncle has either been taking a glass too much or he has drawn the first prize in a lottery," Harry thought to himself as he said, aloud, "Hedwig has just come over, and Aunt Melanie."