'I?' my lady said--she had not been attending very closely. 'I will do what I can. Why will you not enter, Rupert? You are a good shot.'
'You wish me to shoot?' the Waldgrave said slowly.
'Of course!' she answered. 'I think it is a shame General Tzerclas has so few German officers. If I could shoot, I would shoot for the honour of Germany myself.'
The Waldgrave bowed. 'I will shoot,' he said coldly.
'Good!' General Tzerclas answered, with a show of bonhomie. 'That is excellent. Will you descend with me? Each competitor is to fire two shots at the figure at eighty paces. Those who lodge both shots in the target, to fire one shot at the head only.'
The young lord bowed and prepared to follow him.
'Comrade,' Ludwig said in my ear, as I watched them go, 'your master had better have stood by his first word.'
'Why?'
'He will do no good.'
'Why not?' I asked.