ible; if these hounds see and identify
you, there will be mischief.' She said no more, satisfied that she was
understood, but opening the door of the box, passed in, and returned a
stately acknowledgement of the salutations of two military officers.
Carlo likewise bent his head to them; it was like bending his knee, for
in the younger of the two intruders he recognized Lieutenant Pierson. The
countess accepted a vacated seat; the cavity of her ear accepted the
General's apologies. He informed her that he deeply regretted the
intrusion; he was under orders to be present at the opera, and to be as
near the stage as possible, the countess's box being designated. Her face
had the unalterable composure of a painted head upon an old canvas. The
General persisted in tendering excuses. She replied, 'It is best, when
one is too weak to resist, to submit to an outrage quietly.' General
Pierson at once took the position assigned to him; it was not an
agreeable one. Between Carlo and the lieutenant no attempt at
conversation was made.

The General addressed his nephew in English. 'Did you see the girl behind
the scenes, Wilfrid?'

The answer was 'No.'

'Pericles has her fast shut up in the Tyrol: the best habitat for her if
she objects to a whipping. Did you see Irma?'

'No; she has disappeared too.'

'Then I suppose we must make up our minds to an opera without head or
tail. As Pat said of the sack of potatoes, "'twould be a mighty fine
beast if it had them."'

The officers had taken refuge in their opera-glasses, and spoke while
gazing round the house.

'If neither this girl nor Irma is going to appear, there is no positive
necessity for my presence here,' said the General, reduced to excuse
himself to himself. 'I'll sit through the first scene and then beat a
retreat. I might be off at once; the affair looks harmless enough only,
you know, when there's nothing to see, you must report that you have seen
it, or your superiors are not satisfied.'

The lieutenant was less able to cover the irksomeness of his situation
with easy talk. His glance rested on Countess Len a von Lenkenstein, a
quick motion of whose hand made him say that he should go over to her.

'Very well,' said the General; 'be careful that you give no hint of this
horrible business. They will hear of it when they get home: time enough!'

Lieutenant Pierson touched at his sister's box on the way. She was very
excited, asked innumerable things,--whether the