me day.' Nussler did, one day, see
this preciosity: a Crucifix, ebony bordered with gold, and the Body all
of that metal, on the smallest of altars,--in Walrave's bedroom. But it
was the bedroom itself which Nussler looked at with a shudder," Nussler
and we: "in the middle of it stood Walrave's own bed, on his right hand
that of his Wife, and on his left that of his Mistress:"--a brutish
polygamous Walrave! "This Mistress was a certain Quarter-Master's
Wife,"--Quarter-Master willing, it is probable, to get rid of such an
article gratis, much more on terms of profit. "Walrave had begged for
him the Title of Hofrath from King Friedrich,"--which, though it was
but a clipping of ribbon contemptible to Friedrich, and the brute of an
Engineer had excellent talents in his business, I rather wish Friedrich
had refused in this instance. But he did not; "he answered in gibing
tone, 'I grant you the Hofrath Title for your Quarter-Master; thinking
it but fit that a General's'--What shall we call her? (Friedrich uses
the direct word)--'should have some handle to her name.'" [Busching,
_Beitrage,_ i. 343-348.]

It was this Mistress, one is happy to know, that ultimately betrayed the
unbeautiful Walrave, and brought him to Magdeburg for the rest of his
life.--And now let us over the Mountains, to Chrudim again; a hundred
and fifty miles at one step.

Chapter XII. -- PRINCE KARL DOES COME ON.

It was before the middle of May, not of June as Friedrich had expected,
that serious news reached Chrudim. May 11th, from that place, there is
a Letter to Jordan, which for once has no verse, no bantering in it:
Prince Karl actually coming on; Hussar precursors, in quantity, stealing
across to attack our Magazines beyond Elbe;--and in consequence, Orders
are out this very day: "Cantonments, cease; immediate rendezvous, and
Encampment at Chrudim here!" Which takes effect two days hence, Monday,
13th May: one of the finest sights Stille ever saw. "His Majesty rode to
a height; you never beheld such a scene: bright columns, foot and
horse, streaming in from every point of the compass, their clear arms
glittering in the sun; lost now in some hollow, then emerging, winding
out with long-drawn glitter again; till at length their blue uniforms
and actual faces come home to you. Near upon 30,000 of all arms; trim
exact, of stout and silently good-humored aspect; well rested, by this
time;--likely fellows for their work, who will do it with a will