“Poël, I was going to ask you—What time is it?”
“Six o’clock in the morning,” replied the general’s servant, who was facing the clock.
“I was going to tell you, Poël—What is the news to-day at the palace?”
The general went on shuffling his papers, writing a few words on each with a preoccupied air.
“Nothing, your Excellency, except that we are still expecting my noble master, about whom I see the general is anxious.”
The general rose from his big writing-table, and looked at Poël somewhat angrily.
“Your eyes are very poor, Poël. I, anxious about Ordener, indeed! I know the reason for his absence; I do not expect him yet.”
General Levin de Knud was so jealous of his authority that he would have considered it compromised had a subaltern been able to guess his secret thoughts, and learn that Ordener had acted without his orders.
“Poël,” he added, “you may go.”
The servant left the room.