"Yes, of the reserve."
She knew quite well what that meant. Only the Belgian nobility of ancient lineage served as officers in the Guides.
A happiness, a wonderful tranquillity crept over her. No wonder she had found it difficult to really reproach herself with her behaviour. And it was a most heavenly comfort to her to know that if she had been indiscreet, at least she had been misbehaving with one of her own caste.
"The next station," said the German guard, squinting in at them from the window under his lifted lantern, "is Trois Fontaines."
"What!" exclaimed Guild surprised. "Have we passed the customs?"
"The customs? This is a German military train! What business is it of the Grand Duchy where we go or what we do?"
He lowered his lantern and turned away along the running-board, muttering: "Customs, indeed! The Grand Duchy had better mind its business—and the Grand Duchess, too!"
A few moments later the locomotive whistled a long signal note to the unseen station.
"Karen," said Guild quietly, "in a few moments I shall be out of debt to General von Reiter. My life will be my own to do with as I please. That means good-bye."