s?"

Ravitzky grew red and pale in a second, and then stood like one
balancing a difficulty in his own mind.

"I ask again, how comes a mention of me in this document?" cried Frank,
angrily.

"The letter, Herr Lieutenant, is from my cousin, who, aware that I was
serving in the same troop with you, offered to make me known to you."

"And who is this cousin with whom I am so intimate?" said Frank,
proudly.

"Count Ernest Walstein," said the other, calmly.

"What, he is your cousin? Are you really related to Walstein?"

The other bowed slightly in assent

"Then how is it, with such family influence, that you remain a cadet?
you have been two years in the service?"

"Nearly four years, Heir Lieutenant," was the quiet reply.

"Well, four years, and still unpromoted; how is that?"

Ravitzky looked as if unable to answer the question, and seemed confused
and uneasy.

"You have always been a good soldier. I see it in your 'character roll;'
there is not one punishment recorded against you."

"Not one!" said the cadet, haughtily.

"There must, then, be some graver reason for passing you over?"

"There may be," said the other, with a careless pride in his manner.

"Which you know?" said Frank, interrogatively.

"Which I guess at," said Ravitzky.

"Here is your letter, cadet," said Frank, banding it back to him. "I see
you will not make a confidant of me, and I will not force a confession."

Ravitzky took the letter, and, saluting with respect, was about to fall
back, when Frank said,----

"I wish you would be frank with me, and explain this mystery."

"You call it mystery, sir?" said the other, in astonishment "You are an
Irishman born, and call this a mystery?"

"And why not? What has my birth to do with it?"

"Simply that it might have taught the explanation. Is it truth, or am
I deceived in believing that your nation is neither well received nor
kindly met by the prouder country with which you are united; and
that, save when you stoop to blush at your nationality, you are never
recognized as claimant for either office or advancement?"

"This may have been the case once to some extent," said Frank,
doubtingly, "but I scarcely think such differences exist now."

"Then you are more fortunate than we," said Ravitzky.

"But I see men of your nation the very highest in military rank,--the
very nearest to the Sovereign?"

"Their's be the shame, then," said Ravitzky. "There are false hearts in
every la