ld still crack his old jokes; his comrade should not have a fine
story to tell at the military-club, its members should not have a
chance to jeer; and the stout Kannenberg should not bet a flask of
Canary that this pious mood was only one of Pranken's whims. Pranken
brought out his witticisms as if he had learned them by rote, and it
seemed to him a century ago, almost as if it had been in a previous
state of existence, that there had been such a thing as appearing on
parade.

At table, Pranken heard accidentally that, on the next day, a
pilgrimage was to leave the town near by with great pomp. The
new-married couple took counsel whether they should not be spectators
of the display at the place of pilgrimage; they would decide in the
evening.

After Pranken had accompanied them to the boat, he went to the station,
and took a ticket for town; he was glad to be able to be in time for
the evening service at the cathedral. He reached the town and smiled
compassionately, when obliging servants in the streets offered
themselves as guides to places of amusements; he smiled
compassionately, when a servant in the church asked the "gracious
gentleman," whether he should show him everything. Pranken knelt among
the worshippers.

Refreshed, and satisfied with himself, he left the church. He strolled
through the town, and stood long before a hair-dresser's shop. No one
would have thought, and Otto von Pranken least of all, that there was a
battle-field destined for him, not outside in the wild contest of arms,
but before a great window filled with various perfumes, false hair for
men and women, with dolls' heads, whose glass eyes stared under the
artificial brows and lashes. Over the door was printed in golden
letters, "Hair-dressing and shaving done here." Is it not laughable
that a battle is to be fought here? so far from being laughable, it is
serious, bitter, earnest.

Pranken had made a heroic resolve to take part in the pilgrimage, and
indeed he wanted to unite himself with the pilgrims in a humble manner,
and join in their prayers and mortifications. And in the meanwhile, not
to attract attention, and all alone, to allow the change to proceed
silently in himself, it seemed expedient, first to get rid of his very
noticeable whiskers and moustaches; and it was very important to make
recognition difficult, for he feared that some one might meet him and
change his determination, and other people be guilty of the sin of
mock