“Well, the secret is this.  It is quite probable you will not go to the ball at all.”

“Why!  How it that?” the young officers exclaimed simultaneously.  “Is the regiment ordered away?”

“Not yet, lads; but it may be.  I have just seen the colonel.  He dined with the duke at three o’clock.  There were a lot of officers there, and the Prince of Orange, who had just come in from the outposts for the ball, told him that the Prussians at Thuin were attacked this morning, and that a heavy cannonade was going on when he left.  Orders were issued half an hour ago for the whole of the troops to be in readiness to march at a moment’s notice.  There’s no saying yet which way the French may come, and this attack upon the Prussians may be only a feint; so not a soldier can be moved till more is known.  The first division is ordered to collect at Ath to-night, the third at Braine-le-Comte, and the fourth at Grammont.  The fifth—­that is ours—­with the Eighty-first and the Hanoverian brigade, and the sixth division, of course collect here.  All are to be in readiness to march at a moment’s notice.  The Prince of Orange is to gather the second and third Dutch divisions at Nivelles.  Of course this first skirmish may only be intended to feel our force and positions; but at any rate, it is a sign that the game is going to begin.”

“But if the orders are issued, and the troops are to collect to-night, the secret cannot be kept long.”

“No; by this time the divisional orders will be published, and everyone will know it in an hour or two.  There is really no secret about it, lads.  If there had been the colonel wouldn’t have told me, and I shouldn’t have told you.  See, the news is circulating already.”

A change was indeed taking place in the position of the scene.  The loungers were gathering in little groups, talking eagerly and excitedly.  The orders for the concentration of the divisions had become known, though as yet all were in ignorance as to the reason for their issue.  The three officers joined some of the groups and listened to the talk.  The general idea was that the duke had heard that the French were gathering for an attack, and these measures were merely precautionary.  It might be days yet before the affair really began.  Still it was important news; and there were pale faces among the ladies at this sudden reminder that the assembly at Brussels was not a mere holiday gathering, but that war, grim, earnest, and terrible, was impending.

“We had better be getting back to our quarters,” Captain O’Connor said.  “Everything will have to be packed up this evening.”

“But does this mean that the troops are to be under arms all night?” Stapleton asked.

“That it does, Stapleton.  Of course they won’t be kept standing in line; but when troops are ordered to be in readiness to march at a moment’s notice, on such a business as this, it means that they will all be assembled.  Then probably they will be allowed to lie down, and perhaps will light bivouac fires.  But it means business, I can tell you.”