'Oh, Heinrich, what news of him, of Carl? tell me, my brother—my brother, lest I die.'
'I have no news, dear sister; the regiment has heard nothing of him since the battle of the 14th of August, before Metz,' replied Heinrich, speaking with great reluctance, being alike loath to wound his tender sister, or in that moment of their happiness to offend his parents. But now her father spoke, and calmly too.
'The Blatt stated that the Herr Lieutenant was wounded?'
'Yes, when we were storming a mitrailleuse battery.'
'Did you see him fall?'
'No, Herr Graf. The smoke was thick, and I was on the left of the line, he on the right, in Schönforst's company. Poor Schönforst—he fell there, literally torn to shreds!'
'What certainty is there that Here Pierrepont was wounded at all?' asked the Count, very desirous to learn that it was all over with poor Charlie, while Ernestine hung on her brother's words in agony.
'His company saw him struck. He was leading them bravely on after Schönforst's death. Our doctor patched up his wound in some fashion; but on returning at night, could find no trace of him.'
'Where was the wound?' asked Ernestine, with quivering lips.
'In the breast—we shall hear all about it ere long,' continued Heinrich, putting an arm kindly round his sister. 'He is doubtless in some of the many hospitals that are near the fields where we have been fighting.'