"
The two of them went out. Gretchen, overcome, fell upon Fraeu Bauer's
neck and wept soundly. The whole affair had been so sudden and
appalling.
Outside the old man laid his hand on the colonel's arm.
"You must never bother her again."
"Must?"
"The very word. Listen, and do not be a fool because you have some
authority on the general staff. You are Colonel von Wallenstein; you are
something more besides."
"What do you infer?"
"I infer nothing. Now and then there happens strange leakage in the
duke's affairs. The man is well paid. He is a gambler, and one is always
reasonably certain that the gambler will be wanting money. Do you begin
to understand me, or must I be more explicit?"
"Who are you?"
"Who I am is of no present consequence. But I know who and _what_ you
are. That is all-sufficient. If you behave yourself in the future, you
will be allowed to continue in prosperity. But if you attempt to molest
that girl again and I hear of it, there will be no more gold coming over
the frontier from Jugendheit. Now, do you understand?"
"Yes." The colonel experienced a weakness in the knees.
"Go. But be advised and walk circumspectly." The speaker showed his
back insolently, and reentered the Black Eagle.
The colonel, pale and distrait, stared at the empty door; and he saw in
his mind's eye a squad of soldiers, a wall, a single volley, and a
dishonored roll of earth.
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