In omitting to mention his antagonist of the donjon, Frederic obeyed the law which bound him to silence; besides, could that clodhopper be counted as any one?
“What!” said his mother. “Did not the viceroy’s son visit Munkholm last night?”
The lieutenant laughed.
“The viceroy’s son! Indeed, mother, you must be dreaming, or else you are joking.”
“Neither, my son. Who was on guard yesterday?”
“I myself, mother.”
“And you did not see Baron Ordener?”
“Not a bit of it,” repeated the lieutenant.
“But consider, my boy, he may have entered in disguise. You never saw him, having been brought up at Copenhagen, while he was educated at Throndhjem. Remember all the stories about his caprices and whims, and his eccentric ideas. Are you sure, my son, that you did not see any one?”
Frederic hesitated an instant.