d of three interchanges of shots there should be
two, at fifteen paces. The duel was to take place early the next
morning, at half-past five, on the pistol-practice ground of the
regiment.

After Reimers had presented the challenge to Landsberg, he made all the
necessary arrangements to act as his friend's second. He whispered the
time and the place to Guentz while at the table in the orderly-room
signing despatches.

The senior-lieutenant nodded curtly, and answered: "Right; I'll speak
to you later."

Sergeant-major Heppner approached him, and said: "At what time
to-morrow morning do you wish the battery to be ready for the tactical
exercises, sir?"

Guentz was at once on the spot. He signed the order and leant back.

"To-morrow? H'm!" he murmured.

The duel was to take place at half-past five. He considered; in a
quarter of an hour one could easily cover the short distance between
the shooting-ground and the barracks.

"Six sharp," he then answered decisively.

Heppner replied: "Yes, sir, six o'clock;" and wrote the time in the
order-book.

"Yes, six o'clock," repeated Guentz.

If it were no longer possible for him, then Reimers would command the
battery.

It was Wednesday, the day on which Reimers was engaged to dine with the
Guentzes. He would have excused himself, so that his friend should
devote himself undisturbed to his wife and child, but Guentz refused:
"Nothing of the kind, my boy. Why, Klaere might smell a rat! No, no! you
must come. But you'll have to put on another expression, you know!"

So Reimers went, but left unusually early, and when he returned to his
quarters Gaehler handed him a letter from Falkenhein.

The colonel wrote as follows:

"MY DEAR REIMERS,--I return from Kuehren about eleven o'clock, and I beg
of you to look me up this evening without fail.
"Yours,
"v. F."

Here was a glimmer of hope! Perhaps this wretched duel might yet be
avoided! The colonel of a regiment had in certain cases the right to
suspend the judgment of the court of honour, and to refer the matter
directly to the throne for a decision.

Frankly, Reimers could not think on what, in this case, such
interference could be based. The affair seemed just as clear and
distinct as could well be; a verbal quarrel whence resulted the actual
insult, which, though not serious, left not the smallest loophole for a
revocati