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nd now he had removed the uniform and was about to draw off his own jacket and assume the white coat of the Austrian。 〃It is a great happiness；〃 said he； 〃that we need not change our trousers； a little clearer or darker gray can make no difference in the night。〃
Charles Henry was in the act of drawing on the coat of the dead man； when Fritz Kober suddenly seized his arm and held him back。 〃Stop；〃 said he； 〃you must do me a favorthis coat is too narrow； and it pinches me fearfully； you are thinner than I am； and I think it will fit you exactly； take it and give me yours。〃 He jerked off the coat and handed it to his friend。
〃No； no； Fritz Kober；〃 said Charles Henry； in a voice so soft and sweet； that Fritz was confused and bewildered by it。 〃No； Fritz； I understand you fully。 You have the heart of an angel； you only pretend that this coat is too narrow for you that you may induce me to take the one you have already warmed。〃
It was well that Fritz had his back turned to the moon； otherwise his friend would have seen that his face was crimson； he blushed as if detected in some wicked act。 However； he tore the uniform away from Charles Henry rather roughly； and hastened to put it on。
〃Folly；〃 said he； 〃the coat squeezes me； that is all！ Besides； it is not wise to fool away our time in silly talking。 Let us go onward。〃
〃Directly over the battle…field？〃 said Charles Henry； shuddering。
〃Directly over the battle…field；〃 said Kober； 〃because that is the nearest way。〃
〃Come； then；〃 said Charles； giving him his hand。
It was indeed a fearful path through which they must walk。 They passed by troops of corpsesby thousands of groaning； rattling； dying menby many severely wounded； who cried out to them piteously for mercy and help！ Often Charles Henry hesitated and stood still to offer consolation to the unhappy wretches； but Fritz Kober drew him on。 〃We cannot help them； and we have far to go！〃 Often the swarming Cossacks； dashing around on their agile little ponies； called to them from afar off in their barbarous speech； but when they drew near and saw the Austrian uniforms； they passed them quietly； and were not surprised they had not given the pass…word。
At last they passed the battle…field； and came on the open plain； at the end of which they perceived the camp…fires of the Russians and Austrians。 The nearer they approached； the more lively was the scene。 Shouts； laughter； loud calls； and outcriesfrom time to time a word of command。 And in the midst of this mad confusion； here and there soldiers were running； market…women offering them wares cheap； and exulting soldiers assembling around the camp…fires。 From time to time the regular step of the patrouille was heard； who surrounded the camp； and kept a watchful eye in every direction。
Arm in arm they passed steadily around the camp。 〃One thing I know；〃 whispered Fritz Kober； 〃they have no thought of marching。 They will pass a quiet； peaceful night by their camp…fires。〃
〃I agree with you；〃 said Charles Henry； 〃but let us go forward and listen a little； perhaps we can learn where the generals are quartered。〃
〃Look； look！ it must he there；〃 said Fritz Kober； hastily。
〃There are no camp…fires； but there is a brilliant light in the peasants' huts； and it appears to me that I see a guard before the doors。 These； certainly； are the headquarters。〃
〃Let us go there； then；〃 said Charles Henry； 〃but we must approach the houses from behind； and thus avoid the guard。〃
They moved cautiously around； and drew near the houses。 Profound quiet reigned in this neighborhood； it was the reverence of subordinationthe effect which the presence of superior officers ever exercises upon their men。 Here stood groups of officers； lightly whispering togetherthere soldiers were leading their masters' horses； not far off orderlies were waiting on horseback sentinels with shouldered arms were going slowly by。 The attention of all seemed to be fixed upon the two small houses； and every glance and every ear was turned eagerly toward the brilliantly lighted windows。
〃We have hit the mark exactly；〃 whispered Fritz Kober； he had succeeded with his friend in forcing his way into the little alley which separated the two houses。 〃We have now reached the head… quarters of the generals。 Look！ there is an Austrian sentinel with his bear's cap。 Both the Austrian and Russian generals are here。〃
〃 Let us watch the Russians a little through the window；〃 said Charles Henry； slipping forward。
They reached the corner； and were hidden by the trunk of a tree which overshadowed the huts。 Suddenly they heard the word of command； and there was a general movement among the files of soldiers assembled about the square。 The officers placed themselves in rank； the soldiers presented arms； for； at this moment； the Austrian General Loudon； surrounded by his staff； stepped from one of the small houses into the square。 The Cossacks； who were crouched down on the earth before the door； raised themselves； and also presented arms。
While Loudon stood waiting； the two Prussian grenadiers slipped slyly to the other hut。
〃Let us go behind；〃 whispered Charles Henry。 〃There are no sentinels there； and perhaps we may find a door； and get into the house。〃
Behind the hut was a little garden whose thick shrubs and bushes gave complete concealment to the two grenadiers。 Noiselessly they sprang over the little fence； and made a reconnoissance of the terrainunseen； unnoticed； they drew near the house。 As they stepped from behind the bushes； Fritz Kober seized his friend's arm； and with difficulty suppressed a cry of joy。
The scene which was presented to them was well calculated to rejoice the hearts of brave soldiers。 They had reached the goal； and might now hope to fulfil the wishes of their king。 The quarters of the Russian general were plainly exposed to them。 In this great room； which was evidently the ball…room of the village； at a long oak… table； in the middle of the room； sat General Soltikow； and around him sat and stood the generals and officers。 At the door； half a dozen Cossacks were crouching； staring sleepily on the ground。 The room was brilliantly illuminated with wax…lights； and gave the two grenadiers an opportunity of seeing it in every part。 Fate appeared to favor them in every way； and gave them an opportunity to hear as well as see。 The window on the garden was opened to give entrance to the cool night air； and near it there was a thick branch of a tree in which a man could conceal himself。
〃Look there；〃 said Charles Henry； 〃I will hide in that tree。 We will make our observations from different stand…points。 Perhaps one of us may see what escapes the other。 Let us attend closely； that we may tell all to our king。〃
No man in this room guessed that in the silent little garden four flashing eyes were observing all that passed。
At the table sat the Russian commander…in…chief； surrounded by his generals and officers。 Before him lay letters； maps； and plans； at which he gazed from time to time； while he dictated an account of the battle to the officer sitting near him； Soltikow was preparing a dispatch for the Empress Elizabeth。 A few steps farther off； in stiff military bearing； stood the officers who were giving in their reports； and whose statements brought a dark cloud to the brow of the victorious commander。 Turning with a hasty movement of the head to the small man with the gold…embroidered uniform and the stiffly… frizzed wig； he said
〃Did you hear that； sir marquis？ Ten thousand of my brave soldiers lie dead upon the battle…field； and as many more are severely wounded。〃
〃It follows then；〃 said the Marquis Montalembert； the French commissioner between the courts of Vienna； Petersburg； and Paris； 〃it follows then； that the king of Prussia has forty thousand dead and wounded； and； consequently； his little army is utterly destroyed。〃
〃Who knows？〃 said Soltikow； 〃the king of Prussia is accustomed to sell his defeats dearly。 I should not be at all surprised if he had lost fewer soldiers than we have。〃 ＇Footnote： Soltikow's own words See Archenholtz； p 206。＇ 〃Well； I think he has now nothing more to lose；〃 said the marquis； laughing； 〃it rests with you to give the last coup de