But you are looking round for the friends I
promised. They were here a moment since, and only retired to give you a
surprise.
"See! here they are!"
The door opened, and I saw enter--Mohun and Landon!
In an instant I had grasped the hands of these dear friends; and they
had explained their presence. Mohun had come to make a visit to
Mordaunt, and had prolonged his stay in order to meet me. Then Mordaunt
had written to Landon, at "Bizarre," just over the mountain, to come
and complete the party--he had promptly arrived--and I found myself in
presence of three old comrades, any one of whom it would have been a
rare pleasure to have met.
Mohun and Landon were as unchanged as Mordaunt. I saw the same proud
and loyal faces, listened to the same frank brave voices, touched the
same firm hands. They no longer wore uniforms--that was the whole
difference. Under the black coats beat the same hearts which had
throbbed beneath the gray.
I spent the whole day with Mordaunt, After dinner he led the way into
the room on the right of the entrance--that singular apartment into
which I had been shown by accident on my first visit to him, and where
afterward I witnessed the test of poor Achmed's love. The apartment was
unchanged. The floor was still covered with the rich furs of lions,
tigers, and leopards--the agate eyes still glared at me, and the
grinning teeth seemed to utter growls or snarls.
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