litary law. The gallows
for thieves and marauders--say so to my men; they know that General
Tottleben keeps his word. Are you satisfied now?" he asked Gotzkowsky,
as the adjutant left the room.

"I thank your excellency," said Gotzkowsky, hesitating.

"Thank God that at last you are satisfied, and have nothing more to
ask!" cried Tottleben, almost cheerfully.

"But indeed I have a great deal yet to ask, and if you allow me I will
ask your excellency a question. You have just issued an order. How
high up does this order reach?"

"How high up?" asked the general, surprised.

"I mean does this order which forbids the soldiers from robbing and
plundering under pain of death, affect only the common private, or
must the higher officers also obey it?"

"I would advise every one to do so," cried Tottleben, with a harsh
laugh. "The order is for all."

"Even the highest officers?"

"Not even the generals are excepted." "Then, sir," said Gotzkowsky,
drawing himself up and advancing a step toward the general, "I accuse
before you an officer who has had the presumption to disobey
your general order. You forbid, under severe penalty, robbery and
plundering, and yet he is intent on them. You have strictly ordered
the army to preserve discipline, and not to ill-treat nor abuse the
defenceless, and yet a general is about to do it."

"Who dares that? Give me the name of this general!"

"It is General von Tottleben," answered Gotzkowsky, quietly.

Count Tottleben stepped back and gazed at him in amazement.

Gotzkowsky did not lower his eyes, but met his flashing glance firmly.
"Are you beside yourself?" asked the general, after a long pause. "Is
your life such a burden to you that you are determined to lose it?"

"If my head were to fall, it would only be a confirmation of what I
have asserted--that General von Tottleben issues an order, and does
not respect it himself; that while he forbids his soldiers to rob and
steal, under penalty of death, even _he_ commits those very offences."

The excess of this boldness had the effect upon the general on which
Gotzkowsky had calculated. He had speculated somewhat on the leonine
nature of Tottleben's character.

The general, instead of annihilating his foolhardy antagonist, found
pleasure in his presumption, and it flattered him that he was esteemed
too magnanimous to revenge himself for a few words of insult.

"Look here, my friend, you are so outrageously bold that you make m