oman; I have been my own enemy. What shall I say, Jack? Ah,
yes! God have mercy on my soul. And this sudden coldness, this sudden
ease from pain--is death!"

There was a flutter of the eyelids, a sigh, and this poor flotsam, this
drift-wood which had never known a harbor in all its years, this friend
of mine, this inseparable comrade--passed out. He knew all about it
now.

There were hot tears in my eyes as I stood up and gazed down at this
mystery called death. And while I did so, a hand, horny and hard,
closed over mine. The innkeeper, with blinking eyes, stood at my side.

"Ah, Herr," he said, "who would not die like that?"

And we buried him on the hillside, just as the sun swept aside the rosy
curtain of dawn. The wind, laden with fresh morning perfumes, blew up
joyously from the river. From where I stood I could see the drab walls
of the barracks. The windows sparkled and flashed as the gray mists
sailed heavenward and vanished. The hill with its long grasses
resembled a green sea. The thick forests across the river, almost
black at the water's edge, turned a fainter and more delicate hue as
they receded, till, far away, they looked like mottled glass. Only
yesterday he had laughed with me, talked and smoked with me, and now he
was dead. A rage pervaded me. We are puny things, we, who strut the
highways of the world, parading a so-called wisdom. There is only one
philosophy; it is to learn to die.

"Come," said I to the innkeeper; and we went down the hill.

"When does the Herr leave?"

"At once. There will be no questions?" I asked, pointing to the
village.

"None. Who knows?"

"Then, remember that Herr Hillars was taken suddenly ill and died, and
that he desired to be buried here. I dare say the Prince will find
some excuse for his arm, knowing the King's will in regard to dueling.
Do you understand me?"

"Yes."

I did not speak to him again, and he strode along at my heels with an
air of preoccupation. We reached the inn in silence.

"What do you know about her Serene Highness the Princess Hildegarde?" I
asked abruptly.

"What does Herr wish to know?" shifting his eyes from my gaze.

"All you can tell me."

"I was formerly in her father's service. My wife----" He hesitated,
and the expression on his face was a sour one.

"Go on."

"Ah, but it is unpleasant, Herr. You see, my wife and I were not on
the best of terms. She was handsome . . . a cousin of the late Pri