"Willingly; he is my friend; but how came he to make you his messenger?"
"He is at Horstein, and obliged to stay there by order of General Sturm."
"He is very uneasy about a friend of his, who was killed or wounded on the field. He sent me and a comrade to search for this friend, the fiancé of the lady whom you see in the carriage, and said: 'Take this note to the first Prussian officer you see. Tell him to read it, and I am sure he will have the kindness to give you what you ask for.'"
The officer went to the fire, and read what follows:
"Order to the first Prussian officer whom my messenger meets, to put at the disposal of the bearer two soldiers and a surgeon. The two soldiers and the surgeon will follow the bearer wherever he leads them.
"From the quarters of General Horstein, eleven at night:
"By order, General Sturm.
"Principal staff officer,
"BARON FREDERIC VON BÜLOW."
Discipline and obedience are the two chief virtues of the Prussian army. These are what have made it the first army in Germany. The captain had hardly read his superior's order when he dropped the haughty look which he had assumed for the poor devil of a boatman.
"Hullo," he called to the soldiers round the fire. "Two volunteers to serve the principal staff officer, Frederic von Bülow."
Six men presented themselves.
"That's good, you and you," said the captain, choosing two men.
"Now who is the regiment's surgeon?"