“And where did you pick her up?” asked Major von Fritsch.

“Don’t know,” answered one of the Cossacks.  “We crept along a wall, and when we had climbed to the top, we saw a garden.  We got down slowly and carefully, and waited behind the trees, to see if any one would come down the long avenue.  We did not have long to wait before this lady came by herself.  We rushed on her, and all her struggles, of course, went for nothing.  Luckily for her and us, she fainted, for if she had cried out, some one, perhaps, might have come, and then we would have been obliged to gag her.”

The officers laughed.  “Well,” said the major, “Colonel Feodor can stop her mouth now with kisses.”  In the mean while, Lieutenant Matusch threw the Cossacks a few copper coins, and drove them out of the room, with scornful words of abuse.

“And now let us see what we have won,” cried the officers, rushing to the litter.  They were in the act of raising the cloth which concealed the figure, but Feodor stepped forward with determined countenance and flashing eyes.

“Let no one dare to raise this veil,” said he haughtily.  His comrades rushed, with easily aroused anger, on him, and attempted again to approach the veiled woman.  “Be on your guard!” cried Feodor, and, drawing his sword from its scabbard, he placed himself before the litter, ready for the combat.  The officers drew back.  The determined, defiant countenance of the young warrior, his raised and ready sword, made them hesitate and yield.

“Feodor is right,” said the major, after a pause; “he has fairly won the woman, and it is his business now to settle about the ransom.”

The others cast their eyes down, perhaps ashamed of their own rudeness.  “He is right, she belongs to him,” murmured they, as they drew back and approached the door.

“Go, my friends, go,” said Feodor.  “I promise you that I will settle with her about her ransom, and give up beforehand all claim to my share!”

The countenances of the Russian officers brightened up.  They nodded and smiled toward him as they left the room.  Count Feodor von Brenda was now alone with the veiled and insensible woman.

* * * * *

CHAPTER VIII.

BY CHANCE.

As soon as the officers had left the room, Feodor hastened to close the door after them carefully, to prevent any importunate intrusion.  He then searched thoroughly all the corners of the room, and behind the window-curtains, to make sure that no one was concealed there.  He wished to be entirely undisturbed with the poor woman whose face he had not yet beheld, but toward whom he felt himself attracted by a singular, inexplicable sensation.  As soon as he was convinced that he was quite alone, he went to her with flushed cheeks and a beating heart, and unveiled her.