"The ladies of Vienna call my head a sugared strawberry," said the general, laughing, "but the fruit tempts them no longer, the days of war and love are over for me, but my old heart keeps young, and rejoices that my dear young prince should have fought so bravely."
And the old general patted the prince on the shoulder.
Count Platen entered and greeted General von Reischach.
"What news do you bring us from Vienna?"
"Very little," said the general, shrugging his shoulders, "yet stay, a half countryman of yours, a native of Mecklenburg, is about to carry off one of our fairest young ladies."
"Whom?" asked Count Platen.
"Baron Stielow will marry the young Countess Frankenstein in a fortnight."
"Ah!" said Count Platen, "Herr von Stielow, one of Gablenz's staff?"
"The same."
"He is converted, I hear," said Prince Hermann.