ations;
but Von Zwenken said nothing. Francis did not, however, fail to
retaliate in her vehement way.

"Fie, Captain!" she interrupted. "Are you afraid Jonker van Zonshoven
will not observe how great your merits as quartermaster are? If every
one in this house would follow my regime, and drink clear spring-water,
your zeal and care for the wine-cellar would be superfluous."

I had already noticed that she drank nothing but water. The General
now came to the Captain's aid with a French expression: "Le luxe,
c'est le necessaire."

He had drunk a good deal, and his pale cheeks were growing
rosy. Francis rang for Fritz to hand round cigars to the gentlemen, and
then retired to the drawing-room in spite of the furious looks of her
grandfather. As the door was open, I could follow her movements in the
large mirror which faced me. I saw her throw herself on the sofa, wring
her hands, and bite her lips as if to suppress her sobs. The General
soon dozed off, and the Captain applied himself to the cognac bottle,
as he said it was necessary to warm up his stomach after eating cold
fruit; so I walked over towards the drawing-room, trying to hide my
cigar. Francis was disconcerted at being surprised in her disconsolate
mood; but she composed herself, and said, with an attempt at a smile--

"You may smoke here, cousin, if you wish to have a talk with me."

CHAPTER XVI.

"I am not in the habit of smoking in the presence of----" (I had
almost said ladies).

"Nonsense! I am not so fastidious; and you know that quite well. Shall
I make you some coffee? The gentlemen yonder do not take any; they
smoke and drink till----"

I interrupted her with--

"I want nothing but to talk confidentially with you for a quarter of
an hour. Will you grant me that favour?"

"Certainly; take the easy-chair and sit down opposite; that is the
best position for a talk."

I obeyed, and she began--

"Tell me, first of all, do you now understand why I do not like
receiving company?"

"Perhaps. I venture to suppose that you wish to simplify the way of
living, and that the gentlemen do not approve of it. And visitors
cause expense."

"Now, indeed, it is clever of you to guess after what you have
just seen!" and she laughed a merry laugh. "I see I must explain
matters. But let us talk about yourself, Leopold; that will change the
current of my thoughts--and they want changing in my present state of
mind. You see there my constant a