'Curse him! I hope the gout may get into his Excellency's stomach.'
'"The Count and Countess begin to hint now that as the war will too probably be a protracted one, it was unwise to wait for Heinrich's presence at this odious marriage. How Aunt Adelaide pores over the Gazettes—those dreadful Gazettes!" And now, Herr Carl, all that follows are little bon-bons for my own perusal.'
Innocent Herminia little knew that her aunt watched the war Gazettes with the double hope that Heinrich's name was not in them, and that Charlie's was—or might be.
Poor Charlie! Her ladyship was to be gratified one day, however.
'What news from Ernestine?' asked Heinrich, when Charlie had finished the perusal of his letter; 'I feel as anxious about these girls at Frankenburg, as if I was Rip Van Winkle after his long snooze in the Sleepy Hollow.'
But Charlie made no reply; he sat with the letter in his hand, and lost in thought.
'What is the matter, my friend?' asked Heinrich. 'There is something more in your letter than there is in mine?'
'There is, indeed!' replied Charlie, in a strange voice, as he drained his glass.
'Good news?'
'No, Heinrich.'