The pale moonlight falling through the windows revealed all the dismantled and destroyed interior. The fallen ceiling had shattered some of the pews; the altar alone stood undemolished.
Egon had walked to the middle of the room, where he stopped and turned.
"Hartmut."
"Herr Lieutenant."
"Stop that, we are alone," said the Prince. "I did not think, that we should meet like this."
"And I hoped I should be spared it," said Hartmut hoarsely, "You have come----"
"From headquarters. I heard that you had been ordered to sentinel duty on the Capellenberg. That is awful duty for such a night as this."
Hartmut was silent; he knew that without this interruption it would have been his last duty.
Egon looked at him with concern. In spite of the uncertain light he saw how rigid and exhausted was the man who leaned against one of the pillars as if he needed support.
"I came to bring you an order, but it is left to your own free will to accept it or not. The matter is considered almost impossible, and it would be, perhaps, to any one else. You have courage for it, I know, but the question is, have you the strength after all these exertions?"