dmontese lines into and out of Peschiera. These very troopers swore
to it; but they could not swear to Wilfrid, and white umbrellas were not
absolutely uncommon. Vittoria declared that Wilfrid was an old English
friend; Pericles vowed that Wilfrid was one of their party. The prisoner
was clearly an Englishman. As it chanced, the officer before whom
Wilfrid was taken had heard Vittoria sing on the great night at La
Scala. "Signorina, your word should pass the Austrian Field-Marshal
himself," he said, and merely requested Wilfrid to state on his word
of honour that he was not in the Austrian service, to which Wilfrid
unhesitatingly replied, "I am not."

Permission was then accorded to him to proceed in the carriage.

Vittoria held her hand to Wilfrid. He took the fingers and bowed over
them.

He was perfectly self-possessed, and cool even under her eyes. Like
a pedlar he carried a pack on his back, which was his life; for his
business was a combination of scout and spy.

"You have saved me from a ditch to-day," he said; "every fellow has some
sort of love for his life, and I must thank you for the odd luck of your
coming by. I knew you were on this ground somewhere. If the rascals had
searched me, I should not have come off so well. I did not speak falsely
to that officer; I am not in the Austrian service. I am a volunteer spy.
I am an unpaid soldier. I am the dog of the army--fetching and carrying
for a smile and a pat on the head. I am ruined, and I am working my way
up as best I can. My uncle disowns me. It is to General Schoneck that
I owe this chance of re-establishing myself. I followed the army out
of Milan. I was at Melegnano, at Pastrengo, at Santa Lucia. If I get
nothing for it, the Lenkensteins at least shall not say that I abandoned
the flag in adversity. I am bound for Rivoli. The fortress (Peschiera)
has just surrendered. The Marshal is stealing round to make a dash on
Vicenza." So far he spoke like one apart from her, but a flush crossed
his forehead. "I have not followed you. I have obeyed your brief
directions. I saw this carriage yesterday in the ranks of our troops. I
saw Pericles. I guessed who might be inside it. I let it pass me. Could
I do more?"

"Not if you wanted to punish me," said Vittoria.

She was afflicted by his refraining from reproaches in his sunken state.

Their talk bordered the old life which they had known, like a rivulet,
coming to falls where it threatens to be e, torrent an