Ellerey was in a difficulty. He could think of no one to whom he was desirous of intrusting an affair of this kind. Before he could reply, however, he felt a touch upon his arm.
"Can I be of service?" The speaker was an Englishman and a stranger to him.
"You will be doing me a great favor, monsieur, and I thank you."
The stranger at once went aside with the Baron's friend, In a few minutes he returned.
"Come, Captain Ellerey. It is in half an hour's time." And with an assenting inclination of his head Ellerey went slowly down the stairs with his companion.
As he did so a woman came from a corner, and leaning over the balustrade, watched the descending figures. Her face was pale, and her lips trembled.
"I have sought you for my promised dance," said a voice behind her.
"What is interesting the Countess so much?"
"I was thinking that the moon will be setting shortly," she answered absent-mindedly. "In an hour it will be dark or very nearly."
"Well, Countess, what can that matter?" said the Austrian attache.
She looked at him vaguely for a moment, thinking of the man who had just descended the stairs. Then she said with manifest effort and a faint smile as she laid her hand upon the attache's arm: