"160th—Posen, 180th—Altona, 181st—Lippe, 182nd—Lautenburg ... Lautenburg ..." 

 "Well?" 

 He repeated, "Lautenburg." 

 "Do you know Lautenburg?" I said, struck by the tone of his voice. 

 "Yes," he replied gravely. "Are you sure of the number?" 

 "Of course," I replied rather sharply. "But what does it matter—Lautenburg or anywhere else!" 

 "Yes," he murmured, "what does it matter!" 

 I looked at him closely. It was quite easy, because, absorbed as he was, he had no thought for me at all. 

 "Vignerte," I said, "what's the trouble; you don't seem yourself—any bad news?" 

 But he had already recovered and shrugged his shoulders. 

 "My dear chap! Bad news! From whom? I have no one in the world and you know it." 

 "That may be," I answered, "but you are upset tonight. I want you to stay with me and you can fix up company headquarters where you like." 

 "I admit I'm a bit overwrought," he broke in. "What's the time?" 

 "Seven o'clock." 

 "Let's play cards." 

 The suggestion was so unexpected coming from him that the two men with me looked up in amazement. No one in the company had ever seen Lieutenant Vignerte touch a card. 

 "Here, Damestoy," he said, "surely you or Henriquez have got some cards." 

 They nodded. 

 As if they would be without! 

 "What can you play?" 

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