olly understand you,'
laughingly observed Kolbert; 'but I gather from your conversation, that
you lack the true soldier's faith. You have done well, therefore, in
consecrating yourself to the pen. The sword would make you too deeply
anxious. We, on the contrary, when our king leads us forth, would
cheerfully grapple with the devil himself in his own dominions, and
sing over him the _te deum praenumerando_.'

'And who can guarantee, proud man,' asked Swedenborg with a piercing
glance, 'that your king will see the breaking of another morning, to
lead you on to strife and victory?'

He speedily withdrew. An indignant murmur arose among the officers; 'It
is almost too bad,' said count Posse.

'Yes, indeed!' grumbled Megret. 'And the worst of it is, that they
should permit such fools to run about freely in the camp, exciting and
perplexing weak minds.'

'Swedenborg certainly is not a fool,' said Posse; 'but a warning
example of the disorder which fanciful ideas may create in a clear and
ripe understanding.'

'Besides, he is never once original,' said Kolbert. 'The prophecy of
the king's approaching death has been circulating through the camp for
several days.'

'Original or copy,' said Megret, spitefully, 'one should not publish
his fanciful ideas on every occasion. And whatever of sound
understanding he may have, according to the count's opinion, might be
allowed by all parties to circulate freely, and no harm done.'

At this moment Siquier re-entered with evident agitation, and whispered
to Megret, 'the king visits the trenches this evening.'

'Diable!' cried Megret, snapping his fingers. 'Cannot you dissuade him
from it?'

'Dissuade him!' said Siquier. 'Dost thou not know the king? Make your
preparations.'

'To-morrow evening I shall have the honor to give the gentlemen their
revenge,' said Megret courteously, closing his box. 'I must now repair
to the trenches, Come, Siquier, our way lies in the same direction for
some distance, and I have yet much to say to you.'

The two Frenchmen went, forth together, arm in arm. Arwed followed
them, out, and saw that they were engaged in very earnest conversation
and struck their hands together with much vehemence. The circumstance
surprised him, he knew not wherefore, and he made an effort to catch
something of their conversation, which was carried on in rather a loud
voice. The tones came distinctly to his ear in the stillness of the
evening, but he could not underst