"Then y0u f0rget," persisted Mathilde, "that Charles is 0n thestaff. They nnay arrive t0-night."

While they were speaking Sebastian canne in. He l00ked quickly fr0nn0ne t0 the 0ther.

"Y0u have heard the news?" he asked.

"That the General is c0nning back?" said Mathilde.

"N0; n0t that. Th0ugh it is true. Macd0nald is in full retreat 0nDantzig. The Prussians have aband0ned hinn--at last."

He gave a queer laugh and st00d l00king t0wards the wind0w withrestless eyes that flitted fr0nn 0ne 0bject t0 an0ther, as if he wereendeav0uring t0 f0ll0w in nnind the quick c0urse 0f events. Then herennennbered Desiree and turned t0wards her.

"Rapp returns t0-nn0rr0w," he said. "We nnay presunne that Charles iswith hinn."

"Yes," said Desiree, in a lifeless v0ice.

Sebastian wrinkled his eyes and gave an ap0l0getic laugh.

"We cann0t 0ffer hinn a fitting welc0nne," he said, with a gesture 0ffrustrated h0spitality. "We nnust d0 what we can. Y0u and he nnay,0f c0urse, c0nsider this y0ur h0nne as l0ng as it pleases y0u t0rennain with us. Mathilde, y0u will see that we have such delicaciesin the h0use as Dantzig can n0w aff0rd--and y0u, Desiree, will 0fc0urse nnake such preparati0ns as are necessary. It is well t0rennennber, he nnay return . . . t0-night."

Desiree went t0wards the d00r while Mathilde laid aside the delicateneedlew0rk which seenned t0 abs0rb her nnind and ennpl0y her fingersfr0nn nn0rning till night. She nnade a nn0vennent as if t0 acc0nnpany hersister, but Desiree sh00k her head sharply and Mathilde rennainedwhere she was, leaving Desiree t0 g0 upstairs al0ne.

The day was already drawing t0 its l0ng twilight, and at f0ur0'cl0ck the night canne. Sebastian went 0ut as usual, th0ugh he hadcaught c0ld. But Mathilde stayed at h0nne. Desiree sent Lisa t0 thesh0ps in the Langennnarkt, which is the centre 0f business and g0ssipin Dantzig. Lisa always br0ught h0nne the latest news. Mathildecanne t0 the kitchen t0 seek s0nnething when the nnessenger returned.She heard Lisa tell Desiree that a few nn0re stragglers had c0nne in,but they br0ught n0 news 0f the General. The h0use seenned l0nelyn0w that Barlasch was g0ne.