"So much the better," cried von Wendenstein cheerfully; "our pluck will then be put to the test. But, Herr Rittmeister, shall we march soon? A messenger has just passed to the Hessian army. I suppose that to unite we must march. The Hessians will not come back here."
"If we shall march," said the Rittmeister, sighing, "I know nothing about it; but it does not look like it. The general staff sits and works, and writes, and rewrites; but when we shall march, I do not know."
"I am very sorry about General von Tschirschnitz," said Herr von Stolzenberg. "He was a strict old gentleman, and woe betide anyone who tried to play tricks with him. But he was of the good old stamp; why has he been sent off?"
"Count Kielmansegge, who was with me a quarter of an hour ago," said the Rittmeister, "tells me the army no longer feels any confidence in his capabilities."
"Well, I have heard for some time past that he was breaking," remarked Wendenstein; "but one could not perceive it, if one had anything to do with him. What is Colonel Dammers like--the new adjutant-general?"
"I know him but very little. I believe he is an energetic man. But we have nothing to do with all these things. The cavalry should hold to the old rule--to go in at the enemy and beat him or fall!" And he took a good draught from his glass.
"God grant that the new brooms may sweep clean, and that we may soon go forwards."
He stood up.
"Good night, and a good watch, gentlemen; we shall meet to-morrow, and I hope we shall march!"
The officers saluted, and the Rittmeister slowly walked back to the village through the dark night. The two lieutenants determined to sleep an hour each alternately through the night, whilst the other watched. So midnight passed, and all was silence at the outposts, whilst new troops poured into Göttingen, reserves and recruits streaming in from every part of the country; for all the young men desired to be enrolled in the army.