no intention of
being left all alone like a cat."

He gave another grim look at Regine, but she went up to him and answered
him cordially:

"Come now, Moritz, don't growl; let us be happy and without strife for
once. You see I did say yes, to my boy at least, when I found his heart
was set on Marietta."

The head forester looked at her gravely for a moment, then he seized her
hand and pressed it warmly, as he said:

"Yes, I see, Regine, and perhaps you'll repent ere long of your no in
another matter, and give a yes instead."

The old steward of Rodeck stood in his master's dressing-room in the
Adelsberg palace. He had come to the city to receive instructions from
the prince before the latter left for the field. Egon, who wore the
uniform of his regiment, had just finished giving the old man his
orders, and said, finally:

"And keep everything in good order at Rodeck, I may possibly be able to
spend a few hours there before I start, though the order to march may
come any day. How do you think I look as a soldier?"

He stood back and straightened himself as he asked the question.

He was a handsome man, and his tall, slender figure appeared to great
advantage in the rich uniform which he wore. Stadinger looked at him
with eyes full of admiration.

"You're magnificent!" he said. "It's a pity your highness has to go as a
soldier!"

"What do you mean? Am I not heart and soul a soldier? Service in the
field won't be any too easy, but I'll soon get accustomed to it. Nothing
should be difficult when it's one's duty."

"No, your highness thinks a great deal about duty; that's why you left
Ostend when your honored aunt had arranged a marriage for you, so
suitable in every particular, and that's why you--"

"You old rascal!" said the prince. "There's one thing I shall miss in
the field, and that's your insinuations and sermons. By the way,
remember me to pretty little Zena when you get back to Rodeck. Is she
there now?"

"Yes, your highness, she is there now," said the old steward with
emphasis.

"Naturally, because I'm marching to France. But I'll tell you a secret.
I'm going to be a model of reason and virtue when I come back and then I
shall marry."

"Really?" said Stadinger with delight "How rejoiced the whole court
will be!"

"That's as it may be," said Egon. "It's more than probable that the
whole court will be in a rage, especially my aunt Sophie. But you be
silent, Stadinger; don't breathe a syllable