"Captain Gordon," said he, addressing one of them, "despatches requiring
immediate attention have just been brought by this officer."

Before the sentence was finished the door opened, and a short, slight man,
in a gray undress coat, with a white cravat and a cocked hat, entered. The
dead silence that ensued was not necessary to assure me that he was one in
authority,--the look of command his bold, stern features presented; the
sharp, piercing eye, the compressed lip, the impressive expression of the
whole face, told plainly that he was one who held equally himself and
others in mastery.

"Send General Sherbroke here," said he to an aide-de-camp. "Let the light
brigade march into position;" and then turning suddenly to me, "Whose
despatches are these?"

"General Murray's, sir."

I needed no more than that look to assure me that this was he of whom I had
heard so much, and of whom the world was still to hear so much more.

He opened them quickly, and glancing his eye across the contents, crushed
the paper in his hand. Just as he did so, a spot of blood upon the envelope
attracted his attention.

"How's this,--are you wounded?"

"No, sir; my horse was killed--"

"Very well, sir; join your brigade. But stay, I shall have orders for you.
Well, Waters, what news?"

This question was addressed to an officer in a staff uniform, who entered
at the moment, followed by the short and bulky figure of a monk, his shaven
crown and large cassock strongly contrasting with the gorgeous glitter of
the costumes around him.

"I say, who have we here?"

"The Prior of Amarante, sir," replied Waters, "who has just come over. We
have already, by his aid, secured three large barges--"

"Let the artillery take up position in the convent at once," said Sir
Arthur, interrupting. "The boats will be brought round to the small creek
beneath the orchard. You, sir," turning to me, "will convey to General
Murray--but you appear weak. You, Gordon, will desire Murray to effect a
crossing at Avintas with the Germans and the 14th. Sherbroke's division
will occupy the Villa Nuova. What number of men can that seminary take?"

"From three to four hundred, sir. The padre mentions that all the vigilance
of the enemy is limited to the river below the town."

"I perceive it," was the short reply of Sir Arthur, as placing his hands
carelessly behind his back, he walked towards the window, and looked out
upon the river.

All was still as death in