long and loving face with the grey eyebrows over the softly hooded eyes, and the ever happy face of the old soldier who is still alive and appreciates it.
“Is there any news from the Order?” the Colonel asked.
“Only that our leader, Himself, is in trouble. They have confiscated everything he owns. Or at any rate they have intervened.”
“I hope it is not serious.”
“We will have confidence in our leader. He has ridden out worse tempests than this.”
“To our leader,” the Colonel said.
He raised his glass, which had been filled with the decanted new and true Valpolicella. “Drink to him, daughter.”
“I can’t drink to that swine,” the girl said. “Besides I do not belong to the Order.”
“You are a member now,” the Gran Maestro said. “Por merito di guerra.”
“I’ll drink to him then,” she said. “Am I really a member of the Order?”
“Yes,” the Gran Maestro said. “You have not received your parchment yet but I appoint you Super Honorary Secretary. My Colonel will reveal to you the secrets of the order. Reveal, please, my Colonel.”
“I reveal,” the Colonel said. “There are no pitted folk about?”
“No. He is out with his Lady. Miss Baedeker.”
“OK then,” the Colonel said. “I will reveal. There is only
