"One moment, please," interrupted the Landrath, searching diligently among his papers; then he added casually, "And the letter of course contained the necessary command."
"No."
"What, then?"
"The letter was designed to deceive the enemy in case I should be shot from my horse on the way. The Field-Marshal desired me to give his command by word of mouth. I had to learn it by heart."
"How did it run?"
"As follows: 'If on the morrow the enemy attacks us on the right flank, General von Kleist is not to join in the engagement, but to seize the opportunity of gaining the command of the Marne from the south, so that he may bring himself in touch with me. En route several bridges are to be destroyed.'"
The Landrath nodded. "And then--Lieutenant?"
"I succeeded in delivering the message."
"You managed to evade the enemy and reach your goal?"
"I hope you have found proofs of it, Herr Landrath, in the history of the war----"