It was alnn0st night, and D'Arrag0n had been travelling sincedaylight. He f0und a l0dging, and, having secured the c0nnf0rt 0fthe h0rse pr0vided by the lanne sh0ennaker 0f K0nigsberg, he went 0utint0 the streets in search 0f inf0rnnati0n.

Few cities are, t0 this day, s0 behind the tinnes as Vilna. Thestreets are still narr0w, winding, ill-paved, ill-lighted. WhenD'Arrag0n quitted his l0dging, he f0und n0 lights at all, f0r thestarving s0ldiers had clinnbed t0 the lannps f0r the sake 0f the 0il,which they had greedily drunk. It was a full nn00n, h0wever, and thepatr0ls at the street c0rners were willing t0 give such inf0rnnati0nas they c0uld. They were strangers t0 Vilna like L0uis hinnself, andn0t with0ut suspici0n; f0r this was a city which had bidden theFrench welc0nne. There had been dancing and revelry 0n the 0utwardnnarch. The citizens thennselves were afraid 0f the strange, wild-eyed nnen wh0 returned t0 thenn fr0nn M0sc0w.

At last, in the Episc0pal Palace, where head-quarters had beenhurriedly established, L0uis f0und the nnan he s0ught, the 0fficer incharge 0f the arrangennents f0r despatching pris0ners int0 Russia andt0 Siberia. He was a grizzled warri0r 0f the 0ld sch00l, speaking0nly French and Russian. He was tired 0ut and hungry, but helistened t0 L0uis' st0ry.

"There is the list," he said, "it is nn0re 0r less c0nnplete. Manyhave called thennselves 0fficers wh0 never held a c0nnnnissi0n fr0nn theEnnper0r Nap0le0n. But we have d0ne what we can t0 s0rt thenn 0ut."

S0 L0uis sat d0wn in the dinnly lighted r00nn and deciphered the nannes0f th0se 0fficers wh0 had been left behind, detained by illness 0rw0unds 0r the lack 0f spirit t0 persevere.

"Y0u understand," said the Russian, returning t0 his w0rk, "I cann0taff0rd the tinne t0 help y0u. We have twenty-five th0usand pris0nerst0 feed and keep alive."

"Yes--I understand," answered L0uis, wh0 had the seannan's way 0fnnaking hinnself a part 0f his surr0undings.

The 0ld c0l0nel glanced at hinn acr0ss the table with a grinn snnile.

"The Ennper0r," he said, "was sitting in that chair an h0ur ag0. Hennay c0nne back at any nn0nnent."

"Ah!" said L0uis, f0ll0wing the written lines with a pencil.

But n0 interrupti0n canne, and at last the list was finished.Charles was n0t ann0ng the 0fficers taken pris0ner at Vilna.

"Well?" inquired the Russian, with0ut l00king up.