ra Ammiani's enemies would satisfy
him.

"Countess Lena von Lenkenstein, Countess Violetta d'Isorella, signorina
Irma di Karski."

She spoke the names out like a sum that she was paying down in gold
pieces, and immediately rang the bell for her servant and carriage, as if
she had now acquitted her debt. Wilfrid bowed himself forth. A resolution
of the best kind, quite unconnected with his interests or his love, urged
him on straight to the house of the Lenkensteins, where he sent up his
name to Countess Lena. After a delay of many minutes, Count Lenkenstein
accompanied by General Pierson came down, both evidently affecting not to
see him. The General barely acknowledged his salute.

"Hey! Kinsky!" the count turned in the doorway to address him by the
title of his regiment; "here; show me the house inhabited by the Countess
d'Isorella during the revolt."

Wilfrid followed them to the end of the street, pointing his finger to
the house, and saluted.

"An Englishman did me the favour--from pure eccentricity, of course--to
save my life on that exact spot, General," said the count. "Your
countrymen usually take the other side; therefore I mention it."

As Wilfrid was directing his steps to barracks (the little stir to his
pride superinduced by these remarks having demoralized him), Count
Lenkenstein shouted: "Are you off duty?" Wilfrid had nearly replied that
he was, but just mastered himself in time. "No, indeed!" said the count,
"when you have sent up your name to a lady." This time General Pierson
put two fingers formally to his cap, and smiled grimly at the private's
rigid figure of attention. If Wilfrid's form of pride had consented to
let him take delight in the fact, he would have seen at once that
prosperity was ready to shine on him. He nursed the vexations much too
tenderly to give prosperity a welcome; and even when along with Lena, and
convinced of her attachment, and glad of it, he persisted in driving at
the subject which had brought him to her house; so that the veil of
opening commonplaces, pleasant to a couple in their position, was plucked
aside. His business was to ask her why she was the enemy of Countess
Alessandra Ammiani, and to entreat her that she should not seek to harm
that lady. He put it in a set speech. Lena felt that it ought to have
come last, not in advance of their reconciliation. "I will answer you,"
she said. "I am not the Countess Alessandra Ammiani's enemy."

He asked her: "Could