fray, you are welcome to it. Yes,
there will be a duel, but you will not be one of the principals. It is
all arranged."

"But I do not understand," I cried.

"It is not necessary that you should." He laughed and rubbed his hands
in pleasurable anticipation. "There is a young man downstairs, who
arrived a few moments before the lieutenant. He has a special affair.
There were words. Herr Lieutenant is mad enough to fight a whole
company."

"Then, why in heaven's name am I up here in this condition?" I cried.
"Let me go and be the young man's second; though I can't for the life
of me see where he has come from so suddenly, and I might say,
opportunely. Come, cut me loose."

"It is too late!"

"Too late?"

"Yes. Herr Lieutenant has been informed that you ran away."

"Ran away!" I roared. "You told him that I ran away? Damn your
insolence! I'll break every bone in your body for this!" I cried,
straining at the ropes.

"The ropes are new," said he; "you'll hurt yourself."

"You told him that I ran away?" This was too much.

"Yes. Ah, but you will be surprised. The duel will last five minutes.
Herr Lieutenant will thrust; the thrust will be parried. He will
feint; useless. Thrust on thrust; parry on parry. Consternation will
take the place of confidence; he will grow nervous; he will try all his
little tricks and they will fail. Then his eyes will roll and his
breath come in gasps. Suddenly he thinks he sees an opening; he
lunges--ach! the fool; it is all over!" The old man's voice quivered
with excitement. He had passed his time in the barracks and had seen
many a sword skirmish.

"Well, are you going to take off these ropes?"

"No. You would break every bone in my body."

"Damn it, man!" I groaned, in exasperation.

"You will soon be out of breath."

Oh! could I have but loosened those cords!

"Stahlberg, who left the service a year ago, will act in the capacity
of second." Stahlberg was at the head of the vineyard. "I shall watch
the affair from the window here; the scene of action will take place in
the clearing beyond. It will be an affair worth witnessing."

"And where is Gretchen?"

"Where she should be; at the bar, a dutiful bar-maid." Then I heard
nothing but the deep cachinations of the innkeeper. There was
something in the affair which appealed to his humor. I could not see
it. For ten minutes my vocabulary was strictly unprintable.

"Will you kindly tell me wha