civility and his everlasting
moral lectures. He thinks that I need both to keep me in order and even
here in the field he has followed me in order that he might keep up the
friendly custom. I trust he pleases you, my masters--now you can let me
go, Peter."

But instead of obeying this order, the old man held his two hands all
the more firmly, while he said in a tone of deep emotion: "Ah, your
highness, you cannot know how anxious we have been about you at Rodeck."

The prince answered him impatiently: "Indeed, and that's why you have
run away and left things at sixes and sevens at Rodeck, despite all my
solemn charges? I had not thought you would be so neglectful of duty."

Stadinger looked at him quite puzzled.

"But I came on receipt of your letter telling me to do so. You wrote me
to fetch Lois from the hospital, so I started at once. I saw the boy
this morning, and found him as gay as he could be, but he can't be moved
for a week, the doctor said; then I am to take him home. What your
highness, and Lois, and all the rest from Rodeck would have done if I
had not stayed home to guard and control--God alone knows."

Egon drew his hand back impatiently.

"I am Herr Lieutenant here, and have no other title but my military one,
remember that! and here you are as meek as a lamb, when I counted on a
fine sermon for the benefit of us all. Lois, gentlemen, is the grandson
of this old growler, a fine, brave fellow, and he has a sister as sweet
as a peach. But her grandfather sends her away regularly the minute I
set foot in Rodeck. Why didn't you bring Zena with you, and let her see
a little of the world?"

The old man, notwithstanding his desire for peace, threw back his head
at this interrogatory, and answered with all the old acerbity:

"I believed your highness had no time for folly now."

"You made a mistake then. We lead the wildest kind of a life in the
army, and when I go home again--"

"Your highness has promised to marry," finished the steward in such an
impressive manner that the officers all shouted. Egon joined in, but
something was wanting in his merriment, and in his answer too.

"Yes, yes, I've promised that, sure enough, but I have many matters to
settle in the meantime, I'll keep my word in ten years, or perhaps in
twenty--perhaps never!"

Stadinger listened to his highness's words--not for worlds would he have
obeyed the order to call him Herr lieutenant--and his face darkened.

"I almost thou