commandant who spoke without.

"Pardon, Excellency," he said when he had inspected him with a lantern,
"but I did not think that you would be going the rounds with a lady
in your sledge," and holding up the light the man took a long look at
Lysbeth, grinning visibly as he recognised her.

"Ah, he is a gay bird, the captain, a very gay bird, and it's a pretty
Dutch dickey he is teaching to pipe now," she heard him call to a
comrade as he closed the heavy gates behind their sleigh.

Then followed more visits to other military posts in the town, and with
each visit a further explanation. All this while the Count Montalvo
uttered no word beyond those of ordinary compliment, and ventured on
no act of familiarity; his conversation and demeanour indeed remaining
perfectly courteous and respectful. So far as it went this was
satisfactory, but at length there came a moment when Lysbeth felt that
she could bear the position no longer.

"Senor," she said briefly, "take me home; I grow faint."

"With hunger doubtless," he interrupted; "well, by heaven! so do I. But,
my dear lady, as you are aware, duty must be attended to, and, after
all, you may have found some interest in accompanying me on a tour of
the pickets at night. I know your people speak roughly of us Spanish
soldiers, but I hope that after this you will be able to bear testimony
to their discipline. Although it is a fete day you will be my witness
that we have not found a man off duty or the worse for drink. Here,
you," he called to a soldier who stood up to salute him, "follow me to
the house of the Jufvrouw Lysbeth van Hout, where I sup, and lead this