with a military salute, and showed us into an immense
drawing-room hung with embossed gilt leather. Here the General was
taking a nap in a high-backed easy-chair. Francis entered the room
softly enough, but the loud heavy step of the Captain, who thought
fit to follow us, awoke the sleeper with a start.

Instead of the pourfendeur I had conjured up in my fancy from old
Aunt Roselaer's accounts, I perceived a little, thin, grey-headed old
man, the traits of whose face showed him to be a person of superior
breeding, wrapped in a very threadbare damask dressing-gown. His
nose was long and straight, his lips thin and pale, his eyes of a
soft blue, with an expression of lethargy or fatigue. His white,
dry hands had very prominent veins; and he wore a large signet-ring,
with which he kept playing in a nervous, agitated manner all the time
he was speaking.

Francis introduced me in her own peculiar way--

"Grandfather, I bring you Jonker Leopold van Zonshoven, to whom you
must give a hearty welcome, for he is a curiosity in our family."

"In our family! Jonker van Zonshoven--ah! yes, I remember, I
understand," he said, in a surprised and embarrassed tone, which
proved his recollection to be of the vaguest; but he bowed politely,
and offered me his hand, which I shook cordially.

"Sit down, Jonker," he said, pointing to a chair behind which the
Captain stood as if he intended to dispute the place with me.

Francis rang the bell, and asked Fritz if the luncheon were still on
the table.

The servant, with a surprised look, answered--

"It is half-past one."

"Right, Fritz. It is the rule of the house: he who is not here at
roll-call is not expected. Bring a plate of cold meat and bread into
this room."

"And a glass of port-wine for the gentleman," put in the Captain.

When Fritz had left the room, the Captain came and stood straight
before me, saying--

"Pardon me, Jonker, I must have a good look at you. There must be
something peculiar in a young man who has so quickly found favour in
the eyes of our Major."

I hesitated about giving him the answer he deserved in the presence
of the General; and, besides, Francis had warned me he was a man of
no education.

However, the General, speaking in a soft yet authoritative voice,
said--

"Rolf, there are jests which may pass amongst ourselves, but you
seem to forget we are not now alone, and you are wanting in respect
to Miss Mordaunt."

"Because I call her Major