in one of
the two tall gentlemen his Master of Horse, Count Wedel. The other was a
stranger to him.

It was the stranger who now said--

"It is a great pleasure to me, at last, to be able to talk to you
face to face. I have deeply mourned the rift in our old friendship and
fellowship. On my side, the irritation is long since past. I did not
wish to enter the Prussian service at that time, because I could not
bear the thought of our old, brave Hanoverian army having ceased to
exist, and I was angry with you, my dear Ernest, because you, an old
Hanoverian Garde du Corps officer, appeared to have forgotten the honour
due to your narrower Fatherland. But the generous resolution of the
Emperor to revive Hanoverian traditions, to open a new home to our old
corps of officers, and to inscribe our glorious emblems upon the flags
and standards of these new regiments, has made everything right. I hope
the time is not far distant when also those Hanoverians, who still hold
aloof in anger, will allow that a war lord of such noble disposition is
the chosen shepherd and leader of the universal Fatherland."

"Well, I have never misjudged you and your iron will. Meanwhile, you
have thoroughly made acquaintance with the world, and since you are a
merchant prince of Hamburg, I suppose you are the possessor of a large
fortune."

"My life has been both interesting and successful, but I have not got
what is best after all. I long for a sphere of activity in keeping with
my disposition. I am a soldier, as my forbears have been for centuries
before me. Had I entered the Prussian army in 1866, I might to-day be
in command, and might perhaps in a short time have the honour to lead my
corps into the field under the eyes of our Emperor himself."

"You believe Germany will be brought into this war? Against whom should
we fight?"

"If our Emperor is really the sharp-sighted and energetic spirit for
which I take him--"

The monarch did not care to let the gentlemen talk on longer in
ignorance of his presence.

"Hallo! gentlemen!" he called out merrily. "Do not betray your secrets
without knowing who is listening!"

"His Majesty!" the Count said under his breath, taking off his hat
and bowing low. His companion followed his example, and as the Emperor
looked at him with a questioning glance, said--

"At your Majesty's command; Grubenhagen, of Hamburg."

The monarch's eyes travelled over the tall, broad-shouldered figure of
the fine man,