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now nothing more to lose；〃 said the marquis； laughing； 〃it rests with you to give the last coup de grace to this conquered and flying king； and forever prevent〃
The entrance of an officer interrupted him。 The officer announced General von Loudon。
Soltikow arose； and advanced to the door to welcome the Austrian general。 A proud smile was on his face as he gave his hand to Loudon； he did this with the air of a gracious superior who wished to be benevolent to his subordinate。
The quick； firm glance of Loudon seemed to read the haughty heart of his ally； and； no doubt for this reason； he scarcely touched Soltikow's hand。 With erect head and proud step he advanced into the middle of the room。
〃I resolved to come to your excellency；〃 said Loudon； in a sharp； excited tone； 〃you have a large room； while in my hut I could scarcely find accommodation for you and your adjutants。〃
〃You come exactly at the right hour；〃 said Soltikow； with a haughty smile； 〃you see； we were about to hold a council of war； and consider what remains to be done。〃
A dark and scornful expression was seen in Loudon's countenance； and his eyes rested fiercely upon the smiling face of Soltikow。
〃Impossible； general！ you could not have held a council of war without me；〃 said he； angrily。
〃Oh； be composed； general；〃 said Soltikow； smiling； 〃I would； without doubt； have informed you immediately of our conclusions。〃
〃I suppose you could not possibly have come to any conclusion in my absence；〃 said Loudon； the veins in whose forehead began to swell。
Soltikow bowed low； with the same unchanged and insolent smile。
〃Let us not dispute about things which have not yet taken place； your excellency。 The council of war had not commenced； but now that you are here； we may begin。 Allow me； however； first to sign these dispatches which I have written to my gracious sovereign； announcing the victory which the Russian troops have this day achieved over the army of the King of Prussia。〃
〃Ah； general； this time I am in advance of you；〃 cried Loudon； 〃the dispatches are already sent off in which I announced to my empress the victory which the Austrian troops gained over the Prussians。〃
Soltikow threw his head back scornfully； and his little gray eyes flashed at the Austrian。
Loudon went on； calmly： 〃I assure your excellency that enthusiasm at our glorious victory has made me eloquent。 I pictured to my empress the picturesque moment in which the conquering Prussians were rushing forward to take possession of the batteries deserted by the flying Russians； at which time the Austrian horsemen sprang； as it were； from the ground； checked the conquerors； and forced them back； and by deeds of lionlike courage changed the fate of the day。〃
While Loudon； seeming entirely cool and careless； thus spoke； the face of the Russian general was lurid with rage。 Panting for breath； he pressed his doubled fist upon the table。
Every one looked at him in breathless excitement and horrorall knew his passionate and unrestrained rage。 But the Marquis Montalembert hastened to prevent this outburst of passion； and before Soltikow found breath to speak； he turned with a gay and conciliating expression to Loudon。
〃If you have painted the battle of to…day so much in detail；〃 said he； 〃you have certainly not forgotten to depict the gallant conduct of the Russian troops to describe that truly exalted movement； when the Russians threw themselves to the earth； as if dead； before advancing columns of the Prussian army； and allowed them to pass over them； then； springing up； shot them in the back。〃 ＇Footnote： Archenholtz； Seven Years' War； p。 257。＇
〃Certainly I did not forget that；〃 said Loudon； whose noble； generous heart already repented his momentary passion and jealousy； 〃certainly； I am not so cowardly and so unconscionable as to deny the weighty share which the Russian army merit in the honor of this day； but you can well understand that I will not allow the gallant deeds of the Austrians to be swept away。 We have fought together and conquered together； and now let us rejoice together over the glorious result。〃
Loudon gave his hand to Soltikow with so friendly an expression that he could not withstand it。 〃You are right； Loudon； we will rejoice together over this great victory；〃 cried he。 〃Wine； here！ We will first drink a glass in honor of the triumph of the day； then we will empty a glass of your beautiful Rhine wine to the friendship of the Austrians and Russians。 Wine here！ The night is long enough for council； let us first celebrate our victory。〃
The Cossacks； at a sign from the adjutants； sprang from the floor and drew from a corner of the room a number of bottles and silver cups； which they hastened to place upon the table。 The secretaries moved the papers； maps； etc。； and the table； which a moment before had quite a business…like aspect； was now changed into an enticing buffet。
Soltikow looked on enraptured； but the marquis cast an anxious and significant look upon the Austrian general； which was answered with a slight shrug of the shoulders。 Both knew that the brave General Soltikow； next to the thunder of cannon and the mad whirl of battle； loved nothing so well as the springing of corks and the odor of wine。 Both knew that the general was as valiant and unconquerable a soldier as he was a valiant and unconquerable drinkerwho was most apt while drinking to forget every thing else but the gladness of the moment。 The marquis tried to make another weak attempt to remind him of more earnest duties。
〃Look you； your excellency； your secretaries appear very melancholy。 Will you not first hold a council of war？ and we can then give ourselves undisturbed to joy and enjoyment。〃
〃Why is a council of war necessary？〃 said Soltikow； sinking down into a chair and handing his cup to the Cossack behind him to be filled for the second time。 〃Away with business and scribbling！ The dispatches to my empress are completed； seal them； Pietrowitch； and send the courier off immediately； every thing else can wait till morning。 Come； generals； let us strike our glasses to the healths of our exalted sovereigns。〃
Loudon took the cup and drank a brave pledge； then when he had emptied the glass he said： 〃We should not be satisfied with sending our exalted sovereigns the news of the day's victoryit lies in our hands to inform them of the complete and irrevocable defeat of the enemy。〃
〃How so？〃 said Soltikow； filling up his cup for the third time。
〃If now； in place of enjoying this comfortable rest； and giving our enemy time to recover himself； we should follow up the Prussians and cut off the king's retreat； preventing him from taking possession of his old camp at Reutven； we would then be in a condition to crush him completely and put an end to this war。〃
〃Ah； you mean that we should break up the camp at once；〃 said Soltikow； 〃that we should not grant to our poor； exhausted soldiers a single hour of sleep； but lead them out again to battle and to death？ No； no； sir general； the blood of my brave Russians is worth as much as the blood of other men； and I will not make of them a wall behind which the noble Dutchmen place themselves in comfortable security； while we offer up for them our blood and our life。 I think we Russians have done enough； we do not need another victory to prove that we are brave。 When I fight another such battle as I have fought to…day； with my staff in my hand and alone I must carry the news to Petersburg； for I shall have no soldiers left。＇ Footnote： 〃Frederick the Great。〃Geschow； p。 200。＇ I have nothing to say against you； General Loudon。 You have been a faithful ally； we have fought； bled； and conquered together； although not protected by a consecrated hat and sword like Field…Marshal Daun； who ever demands new victories from us while he himself is undecided and completely inactive。〃
〃Your excellency seems to be somewhat embittered against Daun；〃 said Loudon； with a smile he could not wholly suppress。
〃Yes；〃 said Soltikow； 〃I am embittered against this modern Fabius Cunctator； who finds it so easy to become renownedwho remains in Vienna and reaps the harvest which belongs rightly to you； General Loudon。 You act； while he hesitatesyo