Thaddeus,
who was sitting on the front seat of the caleche, turned to take a
letter which bore the stamp of the ministry of Foreign affairs. Having
read it, he put it into his pocket in a manner which prevented
Clementine or Adam from speaking of it. Nevertheless, by the time they
reached the porte Maillot, Adam, full of curiosity, used the privilege
of a sick man whose caprices are to be gratified, and said to
Thaddeus: "There's no indiscretion between brothers who love each
other,--tell me what there is in that despatch; I'm in a fever of
curiosity."
Clementine glanced at Thaddeus with a vexed air, and remarked to her
husband: "He has been so sulky with me for the last two months that I
shall never ask him anything again."
"Oh, as for that," replied Paz, "I can't keep it out of the
newspapers, so I may as well tell you at once. The Emperor Nicholas
has had the grace to appoint me captain in a regiment which is to take
part in the expedition to Khiva."
"You are not going?" cried Adam.
"Yes, I shall go, my dear fellow. Captain I came, and captain I
return. We shall dine together to-morrow for the last time. If I don't
start at once for St. Petersburg I shall have to make the journey by
land, and I am not rich, and I must leave Malaga a little
independence. I ought to think of the only woman who has been able to
understand me; she thinks me grand, superior.
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