The cousin looked less anxious. He was easy going and usually minded his own affairs.
"So, so," he said, "then she will certainly be safe. You are sure she obeyed? Otherwise——"
Hans nodded with conviction.
"Of course she obeyed; why not? I told Minna to command her."
"Very well, then," and Herr Schmelze started home. "Auf wiedersehen, Hans, and you might bring us the news as you come back from Jena."
"Ja wohl," and the old soldier of Frederick the Great strode away in the gloaming.
Jena was a scene of horror. Its streets were noisy with the yells of drunken soldiers; screaming women were rushing in or out of houses; in the streets lay the dead and dying, and, above the noise, steady, never stopping, roared on the cannon of Napoleon.
About ten at night a sound of drums silenced the screams. With triumphant flags and victorious music, in rode Napoleon, erect on his white horse as ever.
"The scoundrel, the upstart!" said a voice near Hans.
The speaker wore the dress of a professor of the University of Jena, and he stiffened his head as the conqueror approached. "I will not bow to him," he muttered, "I will not."