" "And why is it?" Prince Andrew shrugged his shoulders.

"Any news from Mack?" "No.

" "If it were true that he has been beaten, news would have come.

" "Probably," said Prince Andrew moving toward the outer door.

But at that instant a tall Austrian general in a greatcoat, with the order of Maria Theresa on his neck and a black bandage round his head, who had evidently just arrived, entered quickly, slamming the door.