ike prisoners:
they cannot make themselves to be contented. The baroness she has
her villa on a lake back in the woods, and, mon ame! it is
beautiful there--so still, so cool, so delightful! At present they
have a great fear of the British. They lie awake; they listen;
they expect to be carried off; they hear a sound in the night, and,
mon Dieu! it is the soldiers coming."

The count laughed, lifting his shoulders with a gesture of both
hands. Then he puffed thoughtfully at his cigarette.

"Indeed," he went on presently, "I think the invasion is not far
away. They tell me the woods in the north are alive with British
cavalry. I am not able to tell how many, but, Dieu! it is enough.
The army should inform itself immediately. I think it is better
that you penetrate to the river to-morrow, if you are not afraid,
to see what is between, and to return by the woods. I shall
trouble you to take a letter to the General Brown. It will be
ready at any hour."

"At six?" I inquired.

"At six, certainly, if you desire to start then," he replied.

He rose and took my arm affectionately and conducted me to the big
drawing-room. Two of the ladies were singing as one played the
guitar. I looked in vain for the Misses de Lambert. The others
were all there, but they had gone. I felt a singular depression at
their absence and went to my room shortly to get my rest, for I had
to be off early in the morning. Before going to bed, however, I
sat down to think and do some writing. But I could not for the
life of me put away the thought of the young ladies. They looked
alike, and yet I felt sure they were very different. Somehow I
could not recall in what particular they differed. I sat a time
thinking over it. Suddenly I heard low voices, those of women
speaking in French; I could not tell from where they came.

"I do wish she would die, the hateful thing!" said one. (It must
be understood these words are more violent in English than they
seem in French.)

"The colonel is severe to-night," said another.

"The colonel--a fine baroness indeed--vieille tyran! I cannot love
her. Lord! I once tried to love a monkey and had better luck.
The colonel keeps all the men to herself. Whom have I seen for a
year? Dieu! women, grandpapas, greasy guides! Not a young man
since we left Paris."

"My dear Louison!" said the other, "there are many things better
than men."

"Au nom de Dieu! But I should like to know what th