ank.
No one thought of the King of Prussia and his scattered army; they
remembered the victory they had achieved, but the fragrant wine banished
the remembrance of the conquered. [Footnote: See Prussia; Frederick the
Great.--Gebhard, p. 73.]

Montalembert and Loudon took no part in the general mirth. They had left
the table, and from an open window watched the wild and frenzied group.

"It is in vain," whispered Loudon, "we cannot influence him. The German
wine lies nearer his heart than his German allies."

"But you, general, you should do what Soltikow omits or neglects.
You should draw your own advantage from this tardiness of the Russian
general, and pursue and crush the King of Prussia."

"I would not be here now," said Loudon, painfully, "if I could do that.
My hands are bound. I dare not undertake any thing to which the allies
do not agree; we can only act in concert."

A loud roar of laughter from the table silenced the two gentlemen.
Soltikow had just related a merry anecdote, which made the Cossacks
laugh aloud. One of the Russian generals rewarded them by throwing them
two tallow-candles. This dainty little delicacy was received by them
with joyful shouts.

"Let us withdraw," whispered Montalembert, "the scene becomes too
Russian."

"Yes, let us go," sighed Loudon; "if we must remain here inactive, we
can at least employ the time in sleep."

No one remarked the withdrawal of the two gentlemen. The gay laughter,
the drinking and singing went on undisturbed, and soon became a scene of
wild and drunken confusion.

"We can now also withdraw," whispered Charles Henry to Fritz Kober.
"Come, come! you know we are expected."

With every possible caution, they hastened away, and only after they had
left the camp of the Russians and Austrians far behind them, and passed
again over the battle-field did Fritz Kober break silence. "Well," said
he, sighing, "what have we to say to the king?"

"All that we have heard," said Charles Henry.

"Yes, but we have heard nothing," murmured Fritz. "I opened my ears as
wide as possible, but it was all in vain. Is it not base and vile to
come to Germany and speak this gibberish, not a word of which can be
understood? In Germany men should be obliged to speak German, and not
Russian."

"They did not speak Russian, but French," said Charles Henry; "I
understood it all."

Fritz Kober stopped suddenly, and stared at his friend. "You say you
understood French?"

"Yes,