woman than had been the beautiful girl he left at
Stuttgart.

She met him with passionate happiness, and for a few days their
intercourse was a prolonged rhapsody of the senses. At length, however,
their dream was broken by the unwelcome advent of a messenger with
despatches from Vienna to Field-Marshal of the Imperial Army, Commander
of the Swabian Army Corps, Monseigneur le Duc de Wirtemberg. His Highness
was furious, also anxious. Why had the fool Forstner not attended to
these despatches? They were important commands concerning the army, and
needed immediate attention, and now, having been all the way to
Heilbronn, here they were sent to Switzerland! His Highness fumed, cursed
Forstner; it was exceedingly awkward, orders from Vienna, and Eberhard
Ludwig in Switzerland. He had given full power to Forstner to transact
all business in his name.

'Of course, a plot,' said Wilhelmine, 'a plot to separate us again!'

His Highness was anxious, but she soothed him as usual, and he sent the
despatches back with orders to Forstner to attend to the business. Peace
again for a day or so, then Forstner arrived at Schaffhausen.

'Why in hell's name do you follow me, M. de Forstner?' was the Duke's
greeting.

'I come because it is my duty, Monseigneur!'

'Your duty? Let me remind you that your duty lies where I left you--with
the army. But now that you have come, kindly tell me your errand.' It was
harshly said, and Forstner was deeply wounded. Could this be the noble,
courteous prince he had served for many years, the friend of his
childhood, the gallant companion in arms? Poor Forstner, he had yet to
discover that the tiresome friend is always ill-treated eventually.

'My errand, Monseigneur, will be unwelcome to you, I know, for I have
come to urge you to return to the army immediately. The Elector of
Hanover is furious at your Highness's sudden departure. He says openly
that it is contrary to both military discipline and, I regret, mon
Prince, to honour. He says if all his generals permitted themselves to
run after their mistresses when it suited them, the army would be in a
parlous state.' Indeed the Elector of Hanover had expressed himself in
less measured words.

'I am a Prince commanding my own troops allied with the Imperial army,
and I am at liberty to go and come without permission from M.
l'Electeur,' said Eberhard Ludwig haughtily.

'I implore your Highness to listen to reason,' cried Forstner; 'you are
jeo