As soon as they had entered, the count left Charlie in charge of his brother, and also hurried away.

He was not long before he returned.
"The child is doing well," he said, "and now that it has got its mother again, it will, I think, improve rapidly.

The doctor said this morning that he considered it out of danger, but that it needed its mother sorely, to cheer and pet it." In a very short time the tables were laid.

The count, his brother, and Charlie sat at an upper table, and the hall was filled with the various officers and retainers.

The count's arrival was expected, for a horseman had been sent forward on their arrival at the inn the evening before.