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After working through his duty dances, Reimers had allowed himself to omit a polka, and was leaning out of a window in the end room of the suite, when Colonel Falkenhein tapped him on the shoulder.
He could no longer summon up the old impetuous dash with which he had meant to fall upon his opponent's arguments one after another, raze them to the ground and trample them underfoot like the entrenchments and fortifications in some mock combat. He compared Güntz's statement with the notes he had taken of his conversations with Falkenhein, during the short period of his adjutancy.
In reality Kläre had only become intimate with two of the ladies. After Marie von Falkenhein she foregathered chiefly with Hannah von Gropphusen. The latter was a real puzzle to her new friends. She was always alternating in her moods from one extreme to the other.
The surgeon-major blew him a kiss from the carriage. Güntz responded cordially, and continued at his leisurely pace. The colonel was looking out into the street from his high summer-house in the garden. Reimers recognised him from a distance, and as nothing better occurred to him he took off his cap and waved it in the air. Falkenhein checked him energetically when he was preparing to dismount.
The affair seemed just as clear and distinct as could well be; a verbal quarrel whence resulted the actual insult, which, though not serious, left not the smallest loophole for a revocation. The duel seemed utterly inevitable. Falkenhein was already waiting for him. The firm, clear-headed man was in a state of almost feverish excitement.
In his subsequent criticism the general spoke of the pleasure it invariably afforded him to inspect the 80th Regiment of the Eastern Division Field-Artillery, a pleasure of which he had never been disappointed. He ended by saying: "I congratulate both the regiment and yourself, Colonel von Falkenhein.
At Easter a small event occurred in the little garrison, During Holy Week Colonel von Falkenhein took a short leave of absence in order to fetch his daughter Marie home from school at Neuchatel. After Easter she was to come out into society. Reimers debated whether he ought not to pay his respects to the Falkenheins during the holidays.
That is not my business. I put it to you, therefore; will you try with Heppner?" "As you wish, sir." "Good; I think you are right." Falkenhein signed the document and gave it to the captain. "There! now he is sergeant-major!" he said, and continued: "What I most regret is, that you should partially lose him in the active work. That was his real field.
She began confidentially to question her guest about the ladies of the regiment, whereupon Falkenhein said abruptly: "Tell me, Reimers; you often go to the Güntzes', don't you?" "Yes, sir." "Of course Güntz is an old friend of yours. Do you know, I am much taken by his wife. She seems to me to be amiable, straightforward, sensible. We are neighbours; I should like Marie to see something of her.
"I decidedly prefer the all," said Falkenhein, in such a hearty, affectionate tone that a rush of devotion carried the lieutenant past the barriers of formality. He bent quickly over the colonel's hand and kissed it. Tears stood in his eyes tears of grateful pleasure. Now he indeed felt himself back in his native country. How he had longed for it, day after day, during this year of furlough!
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