, the worst was past.

And only just in time. The door flew open with a crash. The Captain
stumbled into the room, swearing afresh.

'SACRE NOM DU DIABLE!' he cried, his face crimson with rage. 'What fool
placed these things here? My boots? My--'

His jaw fell. He stopped on the word, stricken silent by the new aspect
of the room, by the sight of the little party at the table, by all the
changes I had worked.

'SAINT SIEGE!' he muttered. 'What is this?' The Lieutenant's grizzled
face peering over his shoulder completed the picture.

'You are rather late, M. le Capitaine,' I said cheerfully. 'Madame's
hour is eleven. But, come here are your seats waiting for you.'

'MILLE TONNERRES!' he muttered, advancing into the room, and glaring at
us.

'I am afraid that the ragout is cold,' I continued, peering into the
dish and affecting to see nothing. 'The soup, however, has been kept hot
by the fire. But I think that you do not see Madame.'

He opened his mouth to swear, but for the moment he thought better of
it.

'Who--who put my boots in the passage?' he asked, his voice thick
with rage. He did not bow to the ladies, or take any notice of their
presence.

'One of the men, I suppose,' I said indifferently. 'Is anything
missing?'

He glared at me. Then his cloak, spread outside, caught his eye. He
strode through the door, saw his holsters lying on the grass, and other
things strewn about. He came back.

'Whose monkey game is this?' he snarled, and his face was very ugly.
'Who is at the bottom of this? Speak, sir, or I--'

'Tut-tut,--the ladies!' I said. 'You forget yourself, Monsieur.'

'Forget myself?' he hissed, and this time he did not check his oath.
'Don't talk to me of the ladies! Madame? Bah! Do you think, fool,
that we are put into rebel's houses to bow and smile and take dancing
lessons?'

'In this case a lesson in politeness were more to the point, Monsieur,'
I said sternly. And I rose.

'Was it by your orders that this was done?' he retorted, his brow black
with passion. Answer, will you?'

'It was!' I replied outright.

'Then take that!' he cried, dashing his hat violently in my face, 'and
come outside.'

'With pleasure, Monsieur,' I answered, bowing; 'in one moment. Permit me
to find my sword. I think that it is in the passage.'

I went thither to get it.

When I returned, I found that the two men were waiting for me in the
garden, while the ladies had risen from the table, and were sta