It disappeared to our left in the depths of the English garden by the Melna.
A second, then a third flew by and passed out of sight at the same spot. Then a score or more followed.
"The first missel-thrushes," said Aurora. "They are going to the sorbs of the Melna."
We had now reached her apartments. "Poor Melusine," she said in a curious tone; "you're absolutely done up. You must go and rest. I'm going to my bower to try and get a little recreation with those birds."
"I want to come, too," said Melusine.
"No, no!" replied the Grand Duchess. "Raoul Vignerte will come with me. I've something to say to him. You must go and rest. I order it. Just bring me down my gun and some cartridges. Lend yours to Vignerte. He's left his own behind, under the ruins of the castle."
The girl still insisted on going with us.
"Go!" said Aurora sternly.
Melusine left us. She seemed almost dead with fatigue and the strain.
To avoid disturbing the thrushes we took a winding path to the bower, where I had had my first interview with the Grand Duchess of Lautenburg. Every now and then we saw a thrush rise above the clumps of sorbs, take a good look round and then drop down, satisfied.