nt, into malicious, unswerving eyes, as maliciously and unswervingly
myself, and then we both bowed.

"Captain Moray and I have sat at meat together before," he said, with
mannered coolness. "We have played host and guest also: but that was ere
he won our hearts by bold, romantic feats. Still, I dared scarcely hope
to meet him at this table."

"Which is sacred to good manners," said I meaningly and coolly, for my
anger and surprise were too deep for excitement.

I saw the General look at both of us keenly, then his marvellous eyes
flashed intelligence, and a grim smile played at his lips a moment.
After a little general conversation Doltaire addressed me:

"We are not yet so overwhelmed with war but your being here again will
give a fillip to our gossip. It must seem sad to you--you were so long
with us--you have broken bread with so many of us--to see us pelted so.
Sometimes a dinner-table is disordered by a riotous shell."

He bent on torturing me. And it was not hard to do that, for how knew
I what had happened? How came he back so soon from the Bastile? It was
incredible. Perhaps he had never gone, in spite of all. After luncheon,
the matter of exchange of prisoners was gone into, and one by one
the names of the French prisoners in our hands--ladies and gentlemen
apprehended at the chateau were ticked off, and I knew them all save
two. The General deferred to me several times as to the persons and
positions of the captives, and asked my suggestions. Immediately I
proposed Mr. Wainfleet, the chaplain, in exchange for a prisoner, though
his name was not on the list, but Doltaire shook his head in a blank
sort of way.

"Mr. Wainfleet! Mr. Wainfleet! There was no such prisoner in the town,"
he said.

I insisted, but he stared at me inscrutably, and said that he had no
record of the man. Then I spoke most forcibly to the General, and said
that Mr. Wainfleet should be produced, or an account of him be given by
the French Governor. Doltaire then said:

"I am only responsible for these names recorded. Our General trusts to
your honour, and you to ours, Monsieur le General."

There was nothing more to say, and presently the exchanges were
arranged, and, after compliments, Doltaire took his leave. I left the
Governor also, and followed Doltaire. He turned to meet me.

"Captain Moray and I," he remarked to the officers near, "are
old--enemies; and there is a sad sweetness in meetings like these. May
I--"

The off