But the blare of the bugle sounding "attention" announced the presence of the battery commander. Nell whipped up in an instant and whisked her invalid out of the way. "Good-morning, Captain Cram," said he, as he passed his smiling chief. "I regret to observe, sir, that things have been allowed to run down somewhat in my absence." "Oh, out with you, you combination of cheek and incapacity, or I'll run you down with the whole battery. Oh! Waring, some gentlemen in a carriage have just stopped at your quarters, all in black, too. Ah, here's the orderly now." And the card, black-bordered, handed into the phaeton, bore a name which blanched Waring's face: +--------------------------------+ | | | _M. Philippe Lascelles_, | | | | | | _N'lle Orleans_.| +--------------------------------+ "Why, what is it, Waring?" asked Cram, anxiously, bending down from his saddle. For a moment Waring was silent. Mrs. Cram felt her own hand trembling. "Can you turn the battery over to Ferry and come with me?" asked the lieutenant. "Certainly.--Bugler, report to Lieutenant Ferry and tell him I shall have to be absent for a while.--Drive on, Nell." When, five minutes later, Waring was assisted up the stair-way, Cram towering on his right, the little party came upon a group of strangers,--three gentlemen, one of whom stepped courteously forward, raising his hat in a black-gloved hand. He was of medium height, slender, erect, and soldierly in bearing; his face was dark and oval, his eyes large, deep, and full of light. He spoke mainly in English, but with marked accent, and the voice was soft and melodious: "I fear I have intrude. Have I the honor to address Lieutenant Waring? I am Philippe Lascelles." For a moment Waring was too amazed to speak. At last, with brightening face and holding forth his hand, he said,-- "I am most glad to meet you,--to know that it was not you who drove down with us that night." "Alas, no! I left Armand but that very morning, returning to Havana, thence going to Santiago. It was not until five days ago the news reached me. It is of that stranger I come to ask."