the officer, carelessly. Then
looking fixedly at the merchant, he asked, after a pause, "Have you
nothing further to communicate?"

The principal said he had not; but the other rapidly continued, "I quite
understand that our peculiar position prevents your government from
treating with us directly, and that, in the event of your being charged
with a commission, you must proceed with the utmost caution."

Here the merchant hastily interrupted him. "Before you say more, I again
assure you, as a man of honor, that I am come merely on my own business,
and that my business is only what I have already stated. But as I
conclude from your words, as well as much that I have heard on my way
hither, that you take me for a delegate, I feel constrained to tell you
that I never could have been charged with any commission such as you
seem to expect, its very existence being an utter impossibility."

The noble looked grave, and said, after a moment's silence, "Very well;
you shall not suffer on that account. The wish that you express is so
singular, that it would be impossible, in the common course of things,
to grant it. If we are not permitted to consider you a friend, the rules
of war command us to deal with you and yours as enemies. But the men of
my nation have ever possessed, in taking up arms, the rare virtue of
trusting to the virtue of others, as well as of acting nobly, even when
they could expect no gratitude in return. Be assured that I will, as far
as in me lies, assist you to recover your property."

So said the nobleman with self-conscious dignity; and Anton was keenly
alive to the true nobility of the words, though too thoroughly a man of
business to give himself up to the impression they made, his budding
enthusiasm being frostbitten by a very matter-of-fact thought: "He
promises to help us, and yet he is not quite convinced that the property
we wish to carry off is of right our own."

"I am not, alas! so absolute," continued the chief, "as to be able to
gratify you at once. However, I hope in the morning to furnish you with
a pass for your wagons. First of all, try to find out where your
property now is, and I will send one of my officers with you as a
protection. The rest to-morrow."

With these words the travelers were courteously dismissed; and as Anton
went out he saw the officer wearily throw himself back into an
easy-chair, and with bent head begin to play with the trigger of his
pistols.

A slight yout