on. The duel seemed utterly inevitable.

Falkenhein was already waiting for him. The firm, clear-headed man was
in a state of almost feverish excitement. He walked restlessly up and
down the room, constantly buttoning and unbuttoning a button of his
coat.

"Thank you for coming, my dear Reimers," he said in a voice of forced
steadiness, and speaking in jerky sentences. "Tell me, you are his
second to-morrow, are you not?"

"Yes, sir," answered Reimers.

"It is a good thing that you will be there. Yes, it is a good thing.
I--I felt I must speak to you about it. It is true that a commander
should come to his decisions alone, and I have done that--but now I
must speak to some-one. I have not been to Kuehren; I sent the carriage
away, and have been walking in the forest for a long time, and alone.
This duel--it is a mistake, a terrible mistake; that's certain. But my
hands are tied. I can do nothing to prevent it. And yet if things go
badly, I shall be partially responsible. My best officer, one of the
best, most excellent of men, against a lazy ne'er-do-weel! God knows
that laws are sometimes utterly unreasonable, and many of our ideas are
equally senseless. I have racked my brains to find a way out of this
difficulty, and it seems impossible. I know that Landsberg's real
reason is military antagonism; but despite that, I dare not interfere."

The colonel stopped suddenly right in front of the lieu-tenant, and
looking him squarely in the eyes, asked: "Do you really think that
Guentz's honour is affected?"

Reimers was silent. A "yes" seemed to him quite contrary to reason, and
yet he could not say "no."

Falkenhein had again begun to walk up and down the room, not awaiting a
reply.

At last he turned again to Reimers.

"Well, the matter must take its course," he said, in a somewhat calmer
tone. "One thing, however, I ask you to do for me. Directly all is over
to-morrow, will you come and tell me--quite privately? I shall hear
officially from Kauerhof. He's to be umpire, isn't he? And be quick,
won't you, even if all has gone well?--a 'three-cross' ride!"[A]

[Footnote A: The necessary speed in conveying military despatches is
indicated by crosses. Thus, one cross signifies walking and trotting
alternately; two crosses, a quick trot; and three crosses, as fast as
the strength of the horse will permit.]

He held the lieutenant's hand in his, and pressed it warmly. His
depression seemed to have partly passed