The soldier saluted and left the room. Walldorf had been a little surprised at this examination, but gave no second thought to it. He looked after the retreating figure and said as he shrugged his shoulders: "The men on Chapel hill have the devil's own time. They have no rest day or night, and have to exert themselves to the utmost. The poor fellows have to work in the hard frozen trenches until the sweat runs from their faces and their hands are covered with blood. Fighting is the only relief they get."
He stepped into another room to order the watch for the expected prisoner, and to make some additional arrangements. Egon threw open the window and leaned out—he felt he was suffocating. Then he heard Stadinger's voice behind him in a half-whisper as though he were too frightened to speak out loud.
"Your highness!"
"What is it?" the prince answered without turning around.
"But didn't your highness see—?"
"See what?"
"The orderly, who was just here—that was Herr Rojanow, as sure as he lives and breathes."
Egon saw that presence of mind was necessary here; he turned and said coldly: "I believe you see ghosts!"
"But, your highness—"
"Nonsense! only a passing resemblance. I noticed it myself. That's why I asked the man his name. You heard him say his name was Tanner!"