I could perceive that a female voice made some rejoinder, but not distinguish the words; when the man again spoke:
“No, no; it’s all a blunder of that old major; and here am I without an orderly to send after him. Diable! it is provoking.”
“Isn’t that one of your people at the foot of the tower?” said the lady, as she pointed to where I stood, praying for the earth to open, and close over me; for as he moved his head to look down, I saw the epaulets of a staff officer.
“Halloa!” cried he, “are you on duty?”
“No, sir; I was—”
Not waiting for me to finish an explanation, he went on,
“Follow that division of cavalry that has taken the Strasbourg road, and tell Major Roquelard that he has gone wrong; he should have turned off to the left at the suburbs. Lose no time, but away at once. You are mounted, of course?”
“No, sir, my horse is at quarters; but I can—”
“No, no; it will be too late,” he broke in again. “Take my troop horse, and be off. You’ll find him in the stable, to your left.”