icers were quartered, and riding up to the
door, dismounted--and there stood Gaston Cheverny.

It had been more than six months since I had seen him, and he had not
had a Mantuan winter of it; but he looked singularly well, and was
overjoyed to be with the clear-the-way boys once more. He led us into
the house, where supper was already on the table, and the other
officers were assembled. At the first chance I had, which was when we
were about to sit down to table, I handed Gaston the packet given me
by Francezka. At once he said to Count Saxe:

"Sir, I beg that you will excuse me while I read my letters brought me
by Captain Babache."

"Since when have you eaten, Gaston Cheverny?" asked my master.

"At noon, Monsieur."

"And you are not hungry?"

"I am as hungry as a wolf."

"Then sit you down and eat, and not until you have supped shall you
read a single line of love."

Gaston, very sulky, sat down. Count Saxe and the rest of us laughed at
him. Gaston still sulked, but managed to eat a good supper, and drink
his share of wine. He did not smile until near the end. Count Saxe,
raising his glass, drank to a pair of bright eyes in Brabant, at which
the young man chose to smile; and after drinking the toast was
suffered to depart with his treasure.

Count Saxe not needing my services, I presently went to Gaston's room.
He was seated at a rude table, with a single candle on it, devouring
Francezka's letter. He put it in his breast when I entered.

"Now," he cried, joyfully, "tell me all about her--every word, every
look of hers while you were with her. And she writes me that she has
confided all to you."

"She did--and whenever I called her Madame Cheverny, a smile like the
morning shone upon her face."

His face, too, was glowing, and he said:

"You see, there was nothing to be done but that we should be married.
We had, so to speak, no choice."

To this I answered:

"Madame Cheverny gave another reason to me; she said it was because
she loved you so much she could not let you go away unpledged to
her."

Gaston laughed a joyous laugh, and then I told him faithfully all
Francezka had said and done while I was at the chateau.

"And did she say anything of my brother? For I know that he has seen
her many times since I have," Gaston asked, after we had talked
together for a long time.

Count Saxe always said there was something between my eyes which told
just what was passing in my mind. I was not prepa