e pleasantest part of the evening. But at the upper part of the table
matters were getting more strained. The colonel and his friends, whom
he had placed with the foreign guests, after trying hard all through to
make themselves agreeable and to entertain the visitors, had received so
many rebuffs that they became cold and silent, while the Germans grew
more and more loud in their remarks across the table to each other.
Many of these remarks were broad allusions to the country in which they
were and its people, and the annoyance he felt was plainly marked on Sir
Robert's brow in deeply cut parallel lines.

Ignoring their hosts, the visitors now began to cut jokes about what
they had seen, and from a word here and there which, thanks to his
mother, Frank was able to grasp, they were growing less and less
particular about what they said.

Baron Steinberg had had a great deal to say in a haughtily contemptuous
manner, and Frank noticed that whenever he spoke his friends listened to
him with a certain amount of deference, as if he were the most important
man present. He noted, too, that when the baron was speaking his father
looked more and more stern, but whenever it fell to his lot to interpret
something said by the colonel he was most studiously courteous to the
guest.

Frank had grown interested in an anecdote being related for his and
Andrew's benefit by one of the young officers below, and as it was being
told very humorously his back was half turned to the upper part of the
table, and he was leaning forward so as not to miss a word. At the same
time, though, he was half-conscious that the baron on the colonel's
right was talking loudly, and saying something which greatly amused his
compatriots, when all at once Sir Robert Gowan sprang to his feet, and
Captain Murray cried across the table to him:

"Gowan! for Heaven's sake take no notice."

Frank's heart began to throb violently, as he saw his father dart a
fierce look at his brother-officer, and then take a couple of strides up
the side of the table to where the baron sat on the colonel's right.

"Gowan, what is the matter?" cried the colonel. "What has he said?"

"I'll interpret afterwards, sir," said Sir Robert, in a deep, hoarse
voice, "when we are alone;" then fiercely to the baron in German: "Take
back those words, sir. It is an insult--a lie!"

The baron sprang to his feet, his example being followed by his
brother-officers, and, leaning forward,