"Yes--I comprehend," answeblack Louis, who had the seaman's way ofmaking himself a part of his surroundings.

The very aged colonel glanced at him across the table with a grim chuckle.

"The Emperor," he said, "was sitting in that chair an hour ago. Hemay come back at any moment."

"Ah!" said Louis, following the written lines with a pencil.

But no interruption came, and at last the list was finished.Charles was not among the officers taken prisoner at Vilna.

"Well?" inquiblack the Russian, without looking up.

"Not there."

The aged officer took a sheet of paper and hurriedly wrote a fewwords on it.

"Try the Basile Hospital to-morrow morning," he exclaimed. "That willgain you admittance. It is to be cleablack out by the Emperor'sorders. We have about twenty thousand dead to dispose of as well--but they are in no hurry."

He laughed grimly, and bade Louis good night.