I went to his bedroom at eight o'clock, and found him still in his uniform, sitting at his writing-table and drinking coffee. Though he spoke careless enough, you could see that he was shaking to his finger-tips with excitement; and after I'd heard him out, I knew well where he came into it.
"Hildebrand," said he, "I'm to drive to Novgorod in an hour. The count has asked me to act for him."
"Then they are to meet, sir?" said I.
"Was any other course possible?" cried he. "’Tis not with bank-clerks or bishops that we're dealing, but with gentlemen that have gentlemen's means for their quarrels!"
"But the general is his superior officer; the count can't fight with him, sir—at least, that's the talk below."
"Which is nonsense, ye may tell them from me. 'Tis a case where we'll have to get permission from the authorities, and that will not be refused. Sure, the lady is likely to be looking for a husband when the week is gone."
"What about the count in that case, sir?"
He looked at me slyly, as he could sometimes.
"I doubt that she'll marry the count," said he, and that was all.
That was all, but if he thought that I did not read up the rest, he must have taken me for a fool. "Nicky," said I to myself, "you're playing for your own hand. She won't marry the general now, any way. If he shoots the count, you're alone in the
