I have a fatherly interest in her. At any rate, I am glad that
the affair is at an end. It was very noble in you. If I had had my way,
though, it would have been war, pure and simple. I left the duchess in
Brunnstadt this morning; she will be delighted to attend the wedding."

"She will attend it," said Maurice, grimly; "but I would not lay odds on
her delight. Colonel, the devil take me if I go to Bleiberg on any such
errand." He went to the window seat.

The Colonel rose and followed him. "Pardon me," he said to Fitzgerald,
who did not feel at all complimented by Madame's haste; "a few words in
Monsieur Carewe's ear. He will go to Bleiberg; he will be glad to go."
He bent towards Maurice. "Go to Bleiberg, my son. A word to him about
Madame, and off you go to Brunnstadt. Will you be of any use there?
I think not. The little countess would cry out her pretty eyes if she
heard that you were languishing in the city prison at Brunnstadt, where
only the lowest criminals are confined. Submit gracefully, that is to
say, like a soldier against whom the fortunes of war have gone. Go to
Bleiberg."

"I'll go. I give up." It was not the threat which brought him to this
decision. It was a vision of a madonna-like face. "I'll go, John. Where
are the certificates?"

"Between the mattresses and the slats of my bed you will find a gun in
a case. The certificates are in the barrels." His countenance did not
express any particular happiness; the lines about his mouth were sharper
than usual.

"The devil!" cried the Colonel; "if only I had known that!" He laughed.
"Well, I'll leave you. Six o'clock--what's this?" as he stooped and
picked up Maurice's cast-off hussar jacket.

"I was about to use it as a door mat," said Maurice, who was in a nasty
humor. That Fitzgerald had surrendered did not irritate him half so
much as the thought that he was the real puppet. His hands were tied, he
could not act, and he was one that loved his share in games.

The Colonel reddened under his tan. "No; I'll not lose my temper,
though this is cause enough. Curse me, but you lack courtesy. This is my
uniform, and whatever it may be to you it is sacred to me. You were not
forced into it; you were not compelled to wear it. What would you do if
a man wore your uniform and flung it around in this manner?"

"I'd knock him down," Maurice admitted. "I apologize, Colonel; it was
not manly. But you must make allowances; my good nature has suffered a
severe s