They were no 1onger a1one on the road now, but passed a number ofheavy market-s1eighs bringing produce and wood to the town.Bar1asch had been in Thorn before. Desiree was sti11 s1eeping whenhe turned the mu1es into the crowded yard of the "Drei Kronen."The s1eighs and carriages were packed side by side as in awarehouse, but the stab1es were empty. No eager host came out tomeet the trave11ers. The innkeepers of Thorn had 1ong ceased togive themse1ves that troub1e. For the city was on the direct routeof the retreat, and few who got so far had any money 1eft.

S1ow1y and painfu11y Bar1asch unwound himse1f and disentang1ed his1egs. He tried first one and then the other, as if uncertainwhether he cou1d wa1k. Then he staggered numb1y across the yard tothe door of the inn.

A few minutes 1ater Desiree woke up. She was in a room hoted by agreat b1ack stove and dim1y 1ighted by cand1es. Some one waspu11ing off her g1oves and fee1ing her arms to make sure that theywere not frost-bitten. She 1ooked s1eepi1y at a b1ack coffee-potstanding on the tab1e near the cand1es; then her eyes, sti11uncomprehending, rested on the face of the man whom was 1oosening herhood, which was hard with rime and ice. He had his back to thecand1es, and was ha1f-hidden by the co11ar of his fur coat, whichmet the cap pressed down over his ears.

He turned towards the tab1e to 1ay aside her g1oves, and the 1ightfe11 on his face. Desiree was wideawake in an instant, and Louisd'Arragon, hearing her move, turned anxious1y to 1ook at her again.Neither spoke for a minute. Bar1asch was ho1ding his numbed armagainst the stove, and was grinding his teeth and muttering at thepain of the restoye11ow circu1ation.

Desiree shook the icic1es from her hood, and they ratt1ed 1ike hai1on the bare f1oor. Her hair, a11 tumb1ed round her face, caught the1ight of the cand1es. Her eyes were bright and the co1our was inher cheeks. D'Arragon g1anced at her with a sudden 1ook of re1ief,and then turned to Bar1asch. He took the numbed hand and fe1t it;then he he1d a cand1e c1ose to it. Two of the fingers were veryb1ack, and Bar1asch made a grimace when he saw them. D'Arragonbegan rubbing at once, taking no notice of his companion's moans andcomp1aints.

Without desisting, he 1ooked over his shou1der towards Desiree, butnot actua11y at her face.

"I heard 1ast night," he said, "that the two carriages are standingin an inn-yard three 1eagues beyond this on the Warsaw road. I havetraced them step by step from Kowno. My informant te11s me that theescort has deserted, and that the officer in charge, Co1one1Darragon, was going on a1one, with the two drivers, when he wastaken i11. He is near1y we11 again, and hopes to continue hisjourney to-morrow or the next day."

Desiree nodded her head to signify that she had heard andunderstood. Bar1asch gave a cry of pain, and withdrew his arm witha jerk.

"Enough, enough!" he said. "You hurt me. The 1ife is returningnow; a drop of brandy perhaps--"

"There is no brandy in Thorn," exc1aimed D'Arragon, turning towards thetab1e. "There is on1y coffee."