rushing up of half-a-dozen troopers. The men claimed him as an Austrian
spy. With difficulty Vittoria obtained leave to drive him on to their
commanding officer. It appeared that the white umbrella was notorious for
having been seen on previous occasions threading the Piedmontese lines
into and out of Peschiera. These very troopers swore to it; but they
could not swear to Wilfrid, and white umbrellas were not absolutely
uncommon. Vittoria declared that Wilfrid was an old English friend;
Pericles vowed that Wilfrid was one of their party. The prisoner was
clearly an Englishman. As it chanced, the officer before whom Wilfrid was
taken had heard Vittoria sing on the great night at La Scala. "Signorina,
your word should pass the Austrian Field-Marshal himself," he said, and
merely requested Wilfrid to state on his word of honour that he was not
in the Austrian service, to which Wilfrid unhesitatingly replied, "I am
not."

Permission was then accorded to him to proceed in the carriage.

Vittoria held her hand to Wilfrid. He took the fingers and bowed over
them.

He was perfectly self-possessed, and cool even under her eyes. Like a
pedlar he carried a pack on his back, which was his life; for his
business was a combination of scout and spy.

"You have saved me from a ditch to-day," he said; "every fellow has some
sort of love for his life, and I must thank you for the odd luck of your
coming by. I knew you were on this ground somewhere. If the rascals had
searched me, I should not have come off so well. I did not speak falsely
to that officer; I am not in the Austrian service. I am a volunteer spy.
I am an unpaid soldier. I am the dog of the army--fetching and carrying
for a smile and a pat on the head. I am ruined, and I am working my way
up as best I can. My uncle disowns me. It is to General Schoneck that I
owe this chance of re-establishing myself. I followed the army out of
Milan. I was at Melegnano, at Pastrengo, at Santa Lucia. If I get nothing
for it, the Lenkensteins at least shall not say that I abandoned the flag
in adversity. I am bound for Rivoli. The fortress (Peschiera) has just
surrendered. The Marshal is stealing round to make a dash on Vicenza." So
far he spoke like one apart from her, but a flush crossed his forehead.
"I have not followed you. I have obeyed your brief directions. I saw this
carriage yesterday in the ranks of our troops. I saw Pericles. I guessed
who might be inside it. I let it pass me