“‘I trust, sir,’ he said, ‘I shall be treated in conformity with those laws of war which all civilised nations respect. I am not a military man, but belong to the civil service; my rank—’ “‘You are a Frenchman,’ sternly interrupted Dolgorow—‘one of those vampires who have sucked the blood and marrow out of half the nations of Europe; more contemptible and odious than the soldier, for he, at least, fights with fair and open weapons.’ “‘They would willingly,’ persisted St Luces, again trembling with apprehension, ‘exchange me against Russian prisoners!’ “‘Prisoners! what prisoners have you?’ cried Dolgorow with bitter scorn. ‘Thousands, certainly are set down in your bulletins, but where can you show them? You do wrong to remind me of that. Think you we know not how your ruthless assassin bands have treated the few who fell into their hands? Think you we have not found them, lying with shattered skulls upon the roads in rear of your flying columns? Did we not meet with them shut up in churches, barns, and stables, dead in the pangs of famine? Away with ye! We shall find enough to exchange, when exchange we _will_.’”[9] Discoveries and surprises now tread rapidly on each other’s heels. A German in the service of Count Dolgorow recognises Ludwig as the son, and St Luces as the murderer of his former master; whereupon Ludwig generously intercedes for the Frenchman’s life, but is sternly repulsed by the Count, and St Luces is forthwith shot. Then, upon their way to Bianca’s castle, Ludwig and his mistress stumble upon Bernard, lying senseless in the road. They pick him up and take him with them, in spite of danger from wolves and of the anger of Countess Dolgorow, impatient to proceed. At the castle Bernard and Bianca discover, by the somewhat hackneyed contrivance of identical rings, that they are brother and sister, and soon afterwards the Count becomes aware of the good understanding between them, and that Bianca knows she is not his daughter. These meetings and recognitions thwarting certain deep-laid plans, he resolves to forward Ludwig and Bernard to Siberia; but before he can do so, the two young men, with Bianca and Willhofen the German servant, make their escape by the aid of some French prisoners, and take the road to Smolensko, with the intention of joining the French army and seeking refuge in Germany. Meanwhile Rasinski, with the shattered remnant of his gallant regiment, now reduced to a feeble squadron of sixty horses, forms part of the rear-guard under the hero Ney. We will give a specimen of Mr Rellstab’s adaptation of Ségur. “‘Rasinski!’ suddenly exclaimed Jaromir, ‘do you see yonder on the rising ground?’ “‘Cossacks! And I wager my head they are not alone!’ replied Rasinski. “Upon the heights appeared three horsemen, seemingly thrown forward to reconnoitre. They were soon remarked by all; and there occurred in the French ranks that restless stir and low murmur, betokening the expectation of an important event.