me and to assure me of
their loyalty and devotion. At last, however, we reached the bridge, the
same which leads to the now famous city. What would I not have given to
have had Ottilie beside me then? It was a moment to be remembered all
one's life long. As I write, the whole scene rises before my eyes. Once
more I can see the old stone gateway, the long wall on either side of
it, broken in one place, where Max and his storming party had made their
desperate entry, and from the gateway itself General Groplau and his
staff advancing to receive me. There were tears in the old man's eyes as
he came forward to welcome me in the name of the army, and an
unaccustomed huskiness in his voice as he spoke the words. He had done
his duty, and the pleasure of being in a position to hand me the keys of
the city, whose fall it was well known would practically bring about the
end of the war, was not the smallest part of his reward. Side by side we
passed under the arch, and emerging into the city itself, made our way
towards the Council House, which, for the time being, he had made his
headquarters. Here a State Council was convened, at which many important
matters connected with the capture of the city and the treatment of the
prisoners were discussed. After this the various officers who had
especially distinguished themselves during the siege, and also in the
capture of the city that day, were presented to me.

"And now, General," said I, this latter ceremony being at an end, "what
news have you to give me of the man to whose bravery we, to all intents
and purposes, owe the city? The messenger you sent to me this morning
informed me that he was seriously wounded, and that the gravest doubts
were entertained as to his recovery."

"I regret having to inform your Royal Highness that the man's condition
is desperate in the extreme," the general replied. "He now lies in the
house to which he was conveyed immediately after he was discovered. All
that is possible has been done, but I fear without avail. His condition
was hopeless from the first."

"Pray take me to him," I said, "in order that I may thank him for the
service he has rendered his king and country. Since his condition is so
dangerous, it would be inadvisable to postpone the matter for any length
of time. Let us, therefore, set off at once."

So saying, we left the Council Hall, and made our way towards the house
to which the dying man had been carried. There is nothing in t