"Not Sir Thorald?" cried Jack.
"Eh?—yes, that's the man. Know him?"
"A little," said Jack, laughing, and went out, bidding Graham good-night, and promising to have him roused at dawn.
"Aren't you going to turn in?" called Grahame, fearful of having inconvenienced Jack in his own quarters.
"Yes," said the young fellow. "I won't wake you—I'll be back in an hour." And he closed the door, and went down-stairs.
For a few moments he stood on the cool terrace, listening to the movement of the host below; and always the tramp of feet, the snort of horses, and the metallic jingle of passing cannon filled his ears.
The big cuirassier sentinel had been joined by two more, all of the Hundred-Guards. Jack noticed their carbines, wondering a little to see cuirassiers so armed, and marvelling at the long, slender, lance-like bayonets that were attached to the muzzles.
Presently he went into the house, and, entering the smoking-room, met his aunt coming out.
"Jack," she said, "I am a little nervous—the Emperor is still in the dining-room with a crowd of officers, and he has just sent an aide-de-camp to the Château de Nesville to summon the marquis. It will be most awkward; your uncle and he are not friendly, and the Marquis de Nesville hates the Emperor."
"Why did the Emperor send for him?" asked Jack, wondering.