rought back to firm ground by Albert's groom. Now, in high
spirits, he put spurs to his horse, and with a wild huzza leaped into
the court-yard. As all the geese, ducks, turkeys, and poultry of the
household were gathered together here to rest; while from the one side
a flock of sheep, and from the other side a flock of pigs, had been
driven in, we may easily imagine that Paul Talkebarth, who not being
perfect master of his horse, galloped about the court in large circles,
without any will of his own, produced no little devastation in the
domestic economy. Amid the fearful noise of squeaking, cackling,
bleating, grunting animals, the barking of the dogs, and the scolding
of the servants, Albert made his glorious entrance, wishing honest Paul
Talkebarth at all the devils, with his project of surprise.

At last Albert leaped from his horse, and entered the house, which,
without any claim to beauty or elegance, looked roomy and convenient
enough. On the steps he was met by a well-fed, not very tall man, in a
short, gray, hunting-jacket, who, with a half-sour smile, said:
"Quartered?" By the tone in which the man asked this question, Albert
perceived at once that the master of the house, Baron von E---- (as he
had learned from Paul) was before him. He assured him that he was not
quartered, but merely purposed to visit his intimate friend, Colonel
Victor von S----, who was, he was told, residing there, and that he
only required the baron's hospitality for that evening and the night,
as he intended to start very early on the following morning.

The baron's face visibly cleared up, and the full sun-shine, which
ordinarily seemed to play upon his good-humoured, but somewhat too
broad, countenance, returned completely, when Albert as he ascended the
stairs with him remarked, that in all probability no division of the
army now marching would touch this spot.

The baron opened a door, Albert entered a cheerful-looking parlour, and
perceived Victor, who sat with his back towards him. At the sound of
his entrance Victor turned round, and with a loud exclamation of joy
fell into the arms of the lieutenant. "Is it not true, Albert, you
thought of me last night? I knew it, my inner sense told me that you
were in Liege at the very moment when you first entered the place. I
fixed all my thoughts upon you, my spiritual arms embraced you; you
could not escape me."

Albert confessed that--as the gentle reader already knows--dar