"' I tried to persuade myself that I had been mistaken, and walked on, but the matter left me no rest. I turned after a while, and as I walked around the house I noticed a strange light in your Excellency's study; it was not the light of a lamp, but like that of a solitary candle burning at the farther end of the room. It might well be accident, but, my suspicions roused by the sight of Clermont, I determined to have the matter explained at all hazards. I rang the bell, and told the servant that in passing I had observed a singular light in the study, which might possibly proceed from the beginning of a fire, and advised his seeing to it immediately. The man was startled, and hurried away, returning after a few moments, however, to inform me that I was mistaken; he begged pardon, but there was only a single candle burning in the room, and there was no one there except----" "Well? Why hesitate? Go on! Who was there?" "Count Raoul Steinrück." The general's face was ghastly pale, and his breath came short and quick as he said, "My grandson--here?" "Yes, your Excellency." "At midnight?" "At midnight." A long pause ensued; neither man spoke. The eyes of the old Count looked strangely fixed; the dim, dark foreboding that had once before assailed him again emerged from the gloom and took on shape and form. But this dark presage faded; he collected himself and repelled the horrible thought. "Then we must apply to Raoul," he said, regaining his composure. "I will send for him." "The Count is not at home," interposed Michael. "Then he is at the Foreign Office; I will send there instantly. This matter must be cleared up; there is not a minute to lose." He stretched out his hand towards the bell, but suddenly paused, encountering Rodenberg's glance. There must have been something terrible in the young man's eyes, for the general slowly withdrew his outstretched hand and said, in a low tone, "What is it? Out with it!" "I have bad news for you, Count Steinrück,--news hard to bear; you must prepare for the worst." The general passed his hand across his forehead and gazed as if spell-bound at the speaker. "The worst? Where is Raoul?" "Gone!--to France!" Steinrück did not start, did not even exclaim. He put his hand to his heart without a word, and would have fallen if Michael had not supported him as he sank into a seat. Several minutes passed thus. Michael stood silent beside the arm-chair, where the Count leaned back half unconscious. The young officer felt that any word, any offer of help, would be useless. At last he stooped over him. "Your Excellency!" There was no reply. The general seemed to know nothing of what was around him. "Count Steinrück!" Still the same distressing silence. The Count leaned back motionless, his eyes gazing into vacancy, his labouring breath the only sign that he still lived. "Grandfather!"