"I need not fear a duel when I mention your names to one another," he
said laughing. "You'll have to meet some day. Herr von Eschenhagen--Herr
von Walldorf."
"Bless me! I at least declare for peace!" cried Walldorf gaily. "Herr
von Eschenhagen, I am rejoiced to know my future wife's cousin, who got
ahead of us at the altar. We, too, wanted a marriage from the saddle,
but my future father-in-law assumed his fiercest look and declared:
'First conquer, and then marry.' Now we've been doing the former for the
last five months, and when I go home again I'll see to the latter."
He shook Toni's cousin warmly by the hand, then turning to the prince,
said:
"We have something here for you. Orderly from Rodeck, present yourself
before his highness, Herr lieutenant, Prince Adelsberg."
Through the open door came a tall figure which Egon recognized as that
of his old, gray-haired steward. He closed the door cautiously, and came
forward into the room.
"Saints preserve us, it's Peter Stadinger!" It was, indeed, old Peter
who stood in front of his master. He was not unknown to the other
officers, either, for they all greeted him with a shout.
"Well, we must have lights now, that your highness may have a good view
of this old 'ghost of the woods,'" cried Walldorf, as he lit two
candles and placed them with comic gravity before the old man.
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