A terrible spasm shot like lightning across the prisoner's visage, drawing his whole face to one side. Slowly the flaccid muscles resumed their natural places; the screwed up features loosened.
"That's a lie," mumbled Wildresse; and his big, hairless head doddered for a moment.
At a nod from Delisle a soldier picked up the wrist rope, coiled it, and gave it a slight pull.
"March!" he said briefly to his prisoner.
Count Cassilis came over, faintly amused at the scene, to judge by his expression.
"There's a good place under the north terrace," he said languidly. "You don't intend to listen, I fancy, to this statement he wants to make.... Do you?"
"Oh, yes," said the General. "It's my business to listen always."
He sent an aid to find Warner and Gray, and to beg the honor of Madame de Moidrey's presence and of Philippa's. Then he smiled pleasantly at Count Cassilis.
"Yes," he said, "statements always should be listened to. It's the man who doesn't care to hear who makes the most terrible mistakes in life. I can't afford to make mistakes. I'd rather risk being bored. So, if you don't mind, my dear General——"
"Not in the least," said General Count Cassilis languidly.