mendous cannonade."

"So we may expect great news in the next few days?" said Mrs. Wilders,
eagerly.

"More bloodshed!" added Mrs. Jones, with a deep sigh. "This terrible
war!"

"You can't make omelettes without breaking eggs," said Mr. Hobson,
sententiously. "The more terrible a war is, the sooner it is ended."

"We are getting very ghastly in our talk," said Mrs. Wilders. "Suppose
we go into the drawing-room and have some tea."

As they passed out of the dining-room, Mr. Hobson managed to whisper a
few words.

"I have squeezed him dry: that was all I wanted to know. I need not
stay any longer, I think."

"Who knows? His special messenger may come down with the very latest.
If so, you ought to be able to extract that from him too."

Mrs. Wilders spoke these words carelessly; but, as often happens, they
correctly foretold what presently occurred.

When they were all seated cosily around the tea-table, Mrs. Wilders's
man brought in a great dispatch upon a salver.

"For Mr. Faulks," he said, and with an air of the greatest importance
the hard-worked, indispensable official tore open the cover.

It contained a few hurried lines from Sir Humphrey Fothergill to the
following effect:--

"A telegram has just been received from Lord Raglan. It contains
painful news for you; but I thought it best to let you have it at
once."

He opened the telegram with trembling hands and read--

"Yesterday, Mr. McKay, of the quartermaster-general's staff, ventured
through the enemy's lines in the direction of the Tchernaya to make a
special reconnaissance. He unfortunately was captured. I sent a flag
of truce into Sebastopol, asking that he might be exchanged, but have
been peremptorily refused. Gortschakoff asserts that he is a Russian
subject and was taken red-handed as a spy. He is to be executed
immediately. Will renew request with strong protest, but fear there is
no hope."

Mr. Faulks groaned heavily and let the telegram fall on the ground.

"What has happened?" asked Mrs. Wilders, eagerly.

"You were right--too right. That poor boy--"

"Stanislas?"

"Yes; my poor nephew has fallen into the hands of these bloodthirsty
Russians, who are resolved to execute him as a traitor and a spy."

CHAPTER VI.

MARIQUITA'S QUEST.

Hyde's unfortunate affair with the sailor had ended in a broken rib
and a dislocated arm. He was taken back senseless to the camp of the
Royal Picts, and for some days required the close