It was rather late, but not too late. From that day, I learned that it is not best to open one's soul to another and reveal all that is within it; and for that reason, it is said of me that, since the beginning of the war, I am a changed man. In those days, I learned things that never were suffered to pass my lips.
The first one whom we met at the capital was my son-in-law, the Major.
"What is the opinion in the army?" inquired Ludwig.
The Major looked at him steadily, and, after a pause, answered, "Opinion? In the army there is obedience." With forced composure, he added, "As far as I know, the army neither debates nor votes."
He turned to me and said that this time we were better prepared than four years ago.
I asked whether the army orders had already been promulgated.
He shrugged his shoulders, and evidently did not care to divulge anything. He told me, though, that since the evening previous, he had been advanced to the rank of colonel, and had been placed in command of a regiment. When I spoke of this, as indicating that the Prince had decided for war, he lapsed into silence.
We soon parted, regretting that we could not go to his house, for Annette had already prepared quarters for our reception.
I then went to our club-house and learned that our party was already broken up. The Funk faction--I must give it this name, although he was not its leader--held separate meetings.
Ludwig determined logo at once to the meeting of Funk's party, because it was important above all things to know what was being done there.