The door opened to admit Frau von Wallmoden.
"I beg your pardon for detaining you so long, Your Highness," she said, after the first greetings. "It was probably told you that I was beside a deathbed?"
"I learned so upon my arrival," replied Egon, who had hastened to meet her. "Is the case really so serious?"
"Alas, yes! poor Tanner! He used to be tutor in a family in the neighborhood, but had to give up his position on account of a serious illness. At the request of the Chief Forester, I gave him employment in cataloguing my husband's library, which had been sent to Ostwalden, and it was hoped that he would quite recover in the easy office and the invigorating forest air. He was so grateful for it, and told me only yesterday how happy his mother was that he should be excused from military service, on account of not being yet quite well. But suddenly this morning he had a hemorrhage, and the physician tells me that he can live but an hour longer. It is awful to see a young life bleed to death like that!"
"And yet this will happen to thousands in the next few weeks," said Egon, gravely. "Have you been with the poor man?"
"Yes, at his request. He knew how it was with him, and wished to lay a prayer upon my heart for his old mother, who loses in him her only support. I have calmed his mind on that subject, but it was all I could do for him----"
One could see how deeply the scene at the deathbed had impressed the young widow, and Egon, too, felt deep compassion at the narrative.
"I come to say farewell," he said, after a short pause. "We march the day after to-morrow, and I could not deny myself a visit to you once more. I am happy to have found you here, as I understand you intend leaving soon."
"Yes, for Berlin. Lonely Ostwalden is so far remote, and in this time of feverish expectation one wishes to be as near the centre of communications and connections as possible. I am anxious about my brother, who has joined the standard."
Again a pause ensued, and the Prince was about to break it with expression of what lay so near his heart, when Frau von Wallmoden anticipated him with a question, asked with apparent indifference, but in a voice which trembled slightly: