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 his left arm in a sling, whom Brand knew at once to be Franz von Kreuzenach, Eileen O'Connor's friend.

When Brand came into the room, everybody rose in a formal, frightening way, and Elsa's mother rose very graciously and, spoke to her husband.

"This, Baron, is Captain Brand, the English officer who is billeted in our house."

The Baron bowed stiffly to Brand.

"I hope, sir, that my servants are attending to your needs in every way. I beg of you to believe that as an old soldier I wish to fulfil my duty as an officer and a gentleman, however painful the circumstances in which you find us."

Brand replied with equal gravity, regretting his intrusion, and expressing his gratitude for the great courtesy that had been shown to him. Curiously, he told me, he had a strong temptation to laugh. The enormous formality of the reception touched some sense of absurdity so that he wanted to laugh loudly and wildly. Probably that was sheer nervousness.

"Permit me to present my son," said the lady. "Lieutenant Franz von Kreuzenach."

The young man came forward and clicked heels in the German fashion, but his way of shaking hands, and his easy "How do you do?" were perfectly English. For a moment Brand met his eyes, and found them frank and friendly. He had a vision of this man sitting in Eileen O'Connor's room, gazing at her with love in his eyes, and, afterwards, embarrassed, shameful, and immensely sad in that trial scene.

Elsa also shook hands with him, and helped to break the hard ice of ceremony.

"My brother is very glad to meet you. He was at Oxford, you know. Come and sit here. You will take tea, I am sure."