Part 22 (2/2)
”I have a e for the Captain”
”Ah, froes for my master”
”I'll deliver it Tell undy, to keep theair out of your return journey”
”I was to tell it to the Captain personally”
”What!” thundered Stefan, ”am I not to be trusted, then?”
”You know the value of caution in these times,” said Francois, ”you spoke of it just now Monsieur De Froilette is over-cautious, Stefan; that is the truth”
”It is a weakness of all masters,” the soldier replied, ”and so they overreach themselves Give me a little confidence, and I am content, but distrust me, and my ears are ever on the stretch to catch nehich I e But I have no quarrel with you The Captain is out, you must await his return, and while you wait you shall taste his Burgundy”
”Out! So early!”
”Oh, he's in love, I think, for he walks under the stars often, and on his return sighs like a gathering stors, Monsieur Francois I know”
The wily Frenchht find a market for what you know”
”That's been in my mind these many days,” Stefan answered ”It's the first word that sticks in my throat I've never let out secrets before, maybe because no ue”
He took two tankards and a key froe The French at his coe if Stefan could not tell him some nehich would be useful to Monsieur De Froilette
”You have your wine in safe keeping,” he said, as Stefan went down into a cellar, bidding Francois to wait until he had struck a light
”Would you have us keep it in the doorway for every thirsty throat in Sturatzberg? Come do Sit you on that empty barrel there Here's wine should make you dream to your heart's content The Captain will think that it has leaked somewhat Scurvy treat and never ask a soldier comrade to pass an opinion So we help ourselves”
”To his wine and to his secrets, eh?”
Stefan drowned his loud laughter in a copious draught, while Francois sipped with the air of a connoisseur
”Fit for a king's palate,” he murmured
”Say rather for the Gods Nectar, ue as the wine bubbles to the surface”
”Turn thelish Captain to you?”
The soldier set down his tankard and lowered his voice into a confidential whisper