I have said, was a noble of the first class--that which traces nobility back for a single century; but Tolstoff was only of the second, or military class, being the son of a merchant, who after serving eight years in the ranks as a _junker_, on being made an officer becomes an hereditary noble, with the right to purchase a landed estate. Tolstoff was quite lame--temporarily, however--by the bruises his left leg had suffered from the explosion of a shell. He spoke to me in bad and broken German, though I shall render his words here in English. "So my friend Volhonski is taken prisoner?" said I. "Yes; less lucky than you, Herr Captain, who have to be taken yet," he replied, tossing the fag end of his paper cigar into the _peitchka_. "It was in a sortie, I understand?" "A little one; his party was led astray by their guide towards the trenches." "Their guide! could one be found?" "Yes; an officer who deserted to us." "An officer!" said I, with astonishment. "Yes; one who was a prime favourite with the Lord Raglan. Strange that he should desert, was it not!" "With Lord Raglan!" I continued, more bewildered still. "The devil! You are strangely fond of repeating my words! Anyway he wears a diamond ring that was given him by Lord Raglan for some great service he performed; but as he is to be here to-night, you shall see him yourself." Guilfoyle! The inevitable Guilfoyle and his ring! I could have laughed, but for rage at his cowardice, villainy, and treachery, in actually acting as guide in that affair which caused a loss in killed, wounded, and prisoners to our 68th Foot. However, thought I, through my clenched teeth, I shall see him to-night. "Have you ever seen this officer?" I asked. "No; but he comes to Yalta with certain reports for my signature. I doubt if Prince Woronzow, who is now Governor of Tiflis in Georgia, knows who--_all_--honour his mansion by a residence therein. You have made a longer visit among us this time than you did under the flag of truce!" "Circumstances have forced me to do so, with what willingness you may imagine," said I, justly displeased by his tone and tenor of his speech, which seemed to class me with a rascal and a traitor like Guilfoyle. "I was most fortunate, however, in finding my way here, after escaping death, first at the hands of your Cossacks, and afterwards in the sea." "Ah, they are troublesome fellows those Cossacks, and I fear you are not quite done with them yet." "They, and your infantry, too, found us pretty well prepared on that misty morning at Inkermann," said I, growing more and more displeased by his tone and manner. "Well prepared! By----, I should think so; when people come on frivolous errands with flags of truce, to see what an enemy is about behind his own lines."