ho stood jealously looking on, and then,
not waiting for an answer, he bent low and pressed his lips upon it.

Did that hand tremble in his own? Was there an upward movement as if
to press it against his lips? He could not tell. He did not dare to
speculate. The Countess closed her eyes and when she opened them again
he was gone.

CHAPTER XIX

THE GREAT HONOR ROLL

At midnight, had there been anyone abroad in the garrison to observe
them, a number of men, heavily cloaked, might have been seen drifting
through the torrential rain that was falling, toward the quarters
occupied by Major Lestoype. They were expected, evidently, for they
were admitted without hesitation by the carefully selected old soldiers
who kept the door. The usual servants had been dismissed to their
quarters, and their places were taken by certain tried and trusted
veterans of the regiment.

In the quarters of Major Lestoype was a spacious and lofty hall.
Thither the new arrivals were conducted. There was an air of great
secrecy about their movements. The occasion was evidently felt to be a
solemn one by all. Major Lestoype was not yet present. As they threw
off their cloaks it was seen that they were soldiers of the Fifth
regiment of the line, to continue to give it the familiar title. Each
one was arrayed in his best parade uniform. They were of every rank
below that of Major, and included among them were several
non-commissioned officers and a few private soldiers of reputation and
standing. The men were of all ages too, although the non-commissioned
officers and privates were, in every instance, veterans. These last
stood in a little group by themselves, although there was no attempt on
the part of the officers to emphasize any difference in rank on such an
occasion.

There were, perhaps, a hundred men in the company when all had been
assembled. They had been chosen with the utmost care. The list
included all the officers, except certain new officers who had been
assigned to the regiment from other regiments of whom Major Lestoype
and the veteran captains were not sure. Certain other young officers,
sons or connections of influential royalists now in high favor with
King Louis XVIII, who had also been assigned to the regiment were of
course excluded.

Those who were there were known men, all tried and true. Major
Lestoype himself had been a private when the Fifth-of-the-Line had
followed the Emperor, then but Gene