From the monotony of his moody and irritating reflections he was roused one day by the entrance of a visitor, and he started on finding himself face to face with Margarita Palenka, who had come to the camp on horseback, escorted by old Theodore, the veteran of Sadowa. Her eyes were full of unshed tears, as she gave Cecil her hand, and it was impossible for him to behold this beautiful girl's sympathy unmoved. 'How can I ever thank you,' said he, 'for all this deep and kindly interest in me--almost a stranger?' 'I fear the worst, from what my brother says,' she replied in a low and husky voice. 'The worst--death?' 'Better that than--Siberia!' 'So say I,' was Cecil's grim response; and then he added hotly: 'I am a British subject; how dare they menace me with such a fate?' 'A British subject once--a Servian soldier now,' said she, gravely. Cecil thought of the old Cameronians, and his heart seemed to swell painfully, while he eyed with some contempt the brown sleeve of his Servian tunic. Margarita had come to Deligrad, we have said, on horseback; thus a brown riding-habit--almost claret-coloured in tint, out of compliment to the Servian uniform, and like it faced with scarlet and laced with gold--set off her magnificent bust and figure generally. A smart hat encircled by a white ostrich feather, with white riding gauntlets, made up a costume that was altogether very effective, and became the brilliant and striking character of her beauty. At her left breast she wore the bright ribbon of St. Catherine of Russia, procured for her by Tchernaieff, and given to ladies of rank alone. 'Think not ill of me for this visit,' said she after a pause, and when he led her to a seat on the divan; 'I have come to comfort you, when none other dare attempt it--to save you if I can, and none other dare attempt that either, or is perhaps inclined to do so.' She felt the peculiarity, the delicacy of her position; and Cecil felt it too, with a rush of gratitude in his heart--all the greater, no doubt, that she was so beautiful in person, and winning in manner. Intensely interested as she had found herself to be in the fortunes and safety of a young stranger; knowing the wiles and the vengeance of which he was assuredly the victim, and all that he had to apprehend in the present and in the future, sleep had almost deserted the eyes of Margarita for some nights past, and thus their lids were inflamed and her face looked wan. For hours, without retiring to bed, she had been wont to sit musing by the windows of her room, watching the stars as they shone above the dark woods of Palenka, and listening to the distant roar of the Morava, till inaction became torture, and she made up her mind to ride to Deligrad, to discover the truth of all the alarming stories that had reached her and the old countess, and also what she could do to serve--if possible to save him. Hence her most unexpected visit to Cecil.