has no time for such light
sorrows now. Ah, there are the gentlemen! I hear Eugen's voice."

There they were, true enough. They entered just as Willibald ceased
speaking. Young Stahlberg greeted his friend with a joyous cry of
surprise. They had not seen each other since the war began, though they
were in the same army corps. Eugen's arm was in a sling, otherwise he
looked well and happy. He had none of his sister's beauty, neither had
he the strength and earnestness of expression which had been her legacy
from their father. The son seemed, to judge from his appearance, of an
amiable and yielding, rather than a strong nature; but notwithstanding
all this he resembled his sister strongly, and that was the secret of
Egon's friendship for him. His companion was a handsome young officer,
with keen, merry eyes, and as he stepped into the room the prince
introduced him to Willibald.

"I need not fear a duel when I mention your names to one another," he
said laughing. "You'll have to meet some day. Herr von Eschenhagen--Herr
von Walldorf."

"Bless me! I at least declare for peace!" cried Walldorf gaily. "Herr
von Eschenhagen, I am rejoiced to know my future wife's cousin, who got
ahead of us at the altar. We, too, wanted a marriage from the saddle,
but my future father-in-law assumed his fiercest look and declared:
'First conquer, and then marry.' Now we've been doing the former for the
last five months, and when I go home again I'll see to the latter."

He shook Toni's cousin warmly by the hand, then turning to the prince,
said:

"We have something here for you. Orderly from Rodeck, present yourself
before his highness, Herr lieutenant, Prince Adelsberg."

Through the open door came a tall figure which Egon recognized as that
of his old, gray-haired steward. He closed the door cautiously, and came
forward into the room.

"Saints preserve us, it's Peter Stadinger!" It was, indeed, old Peter
who stood in front of his master. He was not unknown to the other
officers, either, for they all greeted him with a shout.

"Well, we must have lights now, that your highness may have a good view
of this old 'ghost of the woods,'" cried Walldorf, as he lit two
candles and placed them with comic gravity before the old man. Egon
laughed as he said:

"You see, Stadinger, what a prominent personage you are, and how much I
talk about you; now I'll present you in all form; here, gentlemen, is
Peter Stadinger, noted for his unfailing in