The governor rang a hand-bell, and a sergeant entered.  The governor wrote a few words on a piece of paper.

“Take these prisoners to Count Preskoff’s,” he said, “and deliver this order to him.”

The sergeant motioned the lads to follow him.  With a bow to the governor, which he passed unacknowledged, they followed the soldier.

“A disagreeable brute, that,” Jack said.  “A little work in the trenches would do him good, and take some of his cockiness out of him.  That was a good idea of the doctor, not saying good-bye in Russian.  I don’t suppose we shall run against that fellow again, but it we did, he might make it so disagreeable that we might be driven to show him a clean pair of heels.”

“He didn’t ask for our parole,” Dick said, “so we shall be justified in making a bolt if we see a chance.”

Passing through the streets the sergeant led them through the town and out into the country beyond.

“Where on earth is he taking us to?” Jack wondered.  “I would bet that he has quartered us on this Count Preskoff from pure spite.  I wonder what sort of chap he is.”

After half an hour’s walking they approached a large chateau, surrounded by smaller buildings.

“He’s a swell evidently,” Dick said.  “We ought to have comfortable quarters here.”

They entered a large courtyard, across one side of which stood the house; and the sergeant, proceeding to the main entrance, rang the bell.  It was opened by a tall man dressed in full Russian costume.

“I have a message for the count from the commandant,” the sergeant said.

“The count is absent,” the servant answered; “but the countess is in.”

“I will speak to her.”

Leaving them standing in the hall, the man ascended a wide staircase, and in a minute or two returned and motioned to the sergeant to follow him.

They ascended the stairs and entered a large and handsome room, in which sat a lady of some forty years old, with three younger ones of from sixteen to twenty years old.

Countess Preskoff was a very handsome woman, and her daughters had inherited her beauty.

The sergeant advanced and handed to her the order.  She glanced at it, and an expression of displeasure passed across her face.

“The commandant’s orders shall be obeyed,” she said coldly; and the sergeant, saluting, retired.

The countess turned to her daughters.

“The commandant has quartered two prisoners, English officers, upon us,” she said.  “Of course he has done it to annoy us.  I suppose these are they.”  And she rose and approached the lads, who were standing by the door.  “Why, they are boys,” she said in surprise, “and will do for playfellows for you, Olga.  Poor little fellows, how cruel to send such boys to fight!”

Then she came up to the boys and bade them welcome with an air of kindness which they both felt.