he seemed about to strike, but
with a brutally contemptuous laugh he bent down, caught up his glass,
and threw it and its contents in Sir Robert's face.

Every one had risen now, and Captain Murray made a rush to reach the
other side; but before he was half-way there, Frank had seen his father
dart forward, there was the sound of a heavy blow, and the German baron
fell back with his chair, the crash resounding through the room, but
only to be drowned by the fierce roar of voices, as the German officers
clapped their hands to their swordless sides, and then made a rush to
seize Sir Robert.

The colonel could not speak a word of German, but his looks and gestures
sufficed as he sprang before them.

"Keep back, gentlemen!" he said; "I am in ignorance of the cause of all
this."

"A most gross insult, sir!" cried Captain Murray angrily.

"Silence, sir!" cried the colonel. "These gentlemen were _my_ guests,
and whatever was said Captain Sir Robert Gowan has committed an
unpardonable breach of social duty. To your quarters, sir, without a
word."

"Right, colonel," replied Sir Robert quietly, as he stood pale and
stern, returning the vindictive looks of the German guests, who would
have attacked him but for the action taken by his brother-officers.

What took place afterward was confused to Frank by the giddy excitement
in his brain; but he was conscious of seeing the baron assisted to a
chair, and then talking in savage anger to his compatriots, while at the
other end of the room there was another knot where the younger officers
and Captain Murray were with Sir Robert.

"It was a mad thing to do, Gowan," cried the former.

"Flesh and blood could not bear it, lad," replied Frank's father. "Mad?
What would you have done if in the presence of your son those words had
been uttered?"

"As you did, old lad," cried Captain Murray, with his face flushing,
"and then stamped my heel upon his face."

There was a low murmur of satisfaction from the young officers around.

"Hah!" said Sir Robert, "I thought so." Then with a quiet smile he
caught Andrew's and Frank's hands: "So sorry, my dear boys, to have
spoiled your evening. Go now.--Murray, old lad, see them off, and then
come to my quarters."

"Oh, Sir Robert," whispered Andrew, clinging to his hand, and speaking
in a low, passionate voice, "I am glad. That did me good."

"What! You understood his words?"

"I? No."

"That's right! Go now, Frank boy. One m