for asking such a favor, and
in case your time should not permit--"

"I'm entirely ready to go with you, Herr Count," replied Edwin. "But I
repeat what I've already told my friend--I go without any delusion that
I can exert any influence over the countess' mind. As in the old days,
in spite of her great confidence, she remained a mystery to me, I fear
that now, too, all my psychology will be baffled by the same problem.
But precisely because I stand in such a peculiar relation toward you,
you shall at least not be permitted to doubt my good will."

He took his hat and cane, passed the strap of his traveling satchel
over his shoulder, and opened the door. The three men walked down
stairs in silence side by side.

An elegant two seated hunting carriage was standing before the door of
the hotel; the long limbed young man in a green livery embroidered with
silver, who held the reins of the fiery horses which impatiently pawed
the ground, fixed his round blue eyes with embarrassed delight on his
old acquaintance, who nodded kindly to him as he came out of the house.
Marquard was right, little Jean's body had grown, but the rosy
beardless face remained unchanged. Edwin handed to the landlord for
mailing, the letter he had written Leah, gave him the necessary
information about Mohr's note, pressed Marquard's hand again and sprang
into the carriage. The count followed, took the reins from Jean who sat
behind, and waving his whip to the physician, spoke to the horses,
which impatiently dashed forward with the light vehicle.

"You'll make allowance for me, and pardon me if I seem silent or
abstracted," said the count, as soon as they had turned from the paved
streets into the softer forest road. "I've two new horses, which I'm
trying for the first time, and I must keep them well in hand. They're
full blooded Trakehners, but still somewhat young and untrained. Do you
take any interest in horses?"

"Yes, an interest, but I'm so ignorant that I should be laughed at by
all connoisseurs. The Great Elector's steed on the long bridge is to me
the crown of his race, and only now and then I find among brewer's
horses a specimen, that distantly reminds me of this ideal."

"That breed is scarcely used now, except for certain purposes," replied
the count gravely. "There's even a prejudice that muscular strength
bears a necessary relation to coarseness. The capacity to use strength
is the principal thing, and for that, thick fetlocks an