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This morning he had a severe hemorrhage, and now the physician says he cannot live an hour. It seems terrible to see a young life cut off so suddenly without any warning." The young mistress sighed deeply as she finished her sad little story. After a minute's pause, Egon said quietly: "I have come to say good-bye. We march to-morrow or next day, and I could not go without seeing you once again.
Hartmut was by his side when he presented himself before the princess. "Well, Egon, it's a great privilege to see your face at all to-day," were the first words. "You are in demand on all sides, it seems." "But I am always at the service of my beloved aunt," Egon declared.
The short November day was nearly over, and the twilight shadows were lengthening rapidly, when Prince Egon, returning from a short walk, entered his brilliantly lighted palace. "Is Herr Rojanow in his rooms?" he asked a footman. "Yes, your highness," the servant answered with a respectful bow. "Then order the carriage for nine o'clock, to take us to the castle."
There was a quick, decided step in the next room; Egon looked up surprised. Servants did not step thus, and visitors were always announced. This visitor needed no announcement as every servant in the palace knew, and all doors were thrown open to him. "Hartmut, is it you?" Egon started forward in joyful surprise as his friend entered, and threw himself upon his breast.
He had come to the city to receive instructions from the prince before the latter left for the field. Egon, who wore the uniform of his regiment, had just finished giving the old man his orders, and said, finally: "And keep everything in good order at Rodeck, I may possibly be able to spend a few hours there before I start, though the order to march may come any day.
"Well, I have very serious objections," retorted Egon crossly. "In heaven's name what's the matter with you anyway? Now when the whole city is wild over the author of 'Arivana' and your presence is demanded everywhere, you want to run away from all the glory and triumph, and hide yourself in a little, dark hole which is only bearable in midsummer. Such an idea is unheard of."
But a spirit-hand seemed to lead me, and in the hour in which I reached my goal, poor Egon fell. You need not hide your tears, dear. I have no jealousy of the dead." "Eugen brought me his last greeting," said the young wife, the hot tears standing in her eyes. "And poor Stadinger wrote me, too, of his master's last words.
"I am delighted to hear it; I adore poetry, and think it the greatest of literary productions." "You two will agree perfectly as to that," said Egon with admiration. Having accomplished his object, he escaped, leaving his friend to enter into a discussion with the princess, on the relative merits of poets and their inspirations.
Please give me your arm, Egon. I want to find my brother." She bowed coldly to those around her as she took the arm of her nephew, in whose face was plainly written: "Now it is my turn." He did not deceive himself, his aunt had no intention of seeking the duke; she turned into an adjoining room with her young kinsman that she might have him under her eyes without interruption for a little time.
So saying Egon sprang quickly up the stairs, and hastened to his friend's apartments, which were on the first floor, not far from his own, and which were furnished with all the old-time magnificence of a princely house. A lamp was burning on the table in Hartmut's little study, and he himself, looking weary and dejected, was lying full length upon a couch.
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