Only his eyes gleamed feverishly and his thoughts followed one another with extraordinary clearness and rapidity.

He again vividly recalled the details of the battle, no longer dim, but definite and in the concise form in which he imagined himself stating them to the Emperor Francis.

He vividly imagined the casual questions that might be put to him and the answers he would give.

He expected to be at once presented to the Emperor.

At the chief entrance to the palace, however, an official came running out to meet him, and learning that he was a special messenger led him to another entrance.