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The generals and staff officers hurried silently away； to place themselves at the head of their regiments； and lead them before the king。
The king stood upright； his unsheathed sword in his right hand； as in the most ceremonious parade。 The marching of the troops began； but it was a sad spectacle for their king。 How little was left of the great and glorious army which he had led yesterday to battle！ More than twenty thousand men were either killed or wounded。 Thousands were flying and scattered。 A few regiments had been formed with great trouble； barely five thousand men were now assembled。 The king looked on with a firm eye； but his lips were tightly compressed； and his breath came heavily。 Suddenly he turned to Count Dolmer； the adjutant of the Grand Duke Ferdinand of Brunswick； who had arrived a few days before with the intelligence of a victory gained at Minden。 The king had invited him to remain； 〃I am about to overpower the Russians； remain until I can give you a like message。〃 The king was reminded of this as he saw the count near him。
〃Ah；〃 he said； with a troubled smile； 〃you are waiting for the message I promised。 I am distressed that I cannot make you the bearer of better news。 If； however； you arrive safely at the end of your journey； and do not find Daun already in Berlin； and Contades in Magdeburg； you can assure the Grand Duke Ferdinand from me that all is not lost。 Farewell； sir。〃
Then； bowing slightly； he advanced with a firm step to the generals。 His eyes glowed and flashed once more； and his whole being reassumed its usual bold and energetic expression。
〃Gentlemen；〃 he said； in a clear voice； 〃fortune did not favor us yesterday； but there is no reason to despair。 A day will come when we shall repay the enemy with bloody interest。 I at least expect such a day； I will live for its coming； and all my thoughts and plans shall be directed toward that object。 I strive for no other glory than to deliver Prussia from the conspiracy into which the whole of Europe has entered against her。 I will obtain peace for my native land； but it shall be a great and honorable peace。 I will accept no other： I would rather be buried under the ruins of my cannon； than accept a peace that would bring no advantages to Prussia； no fame to us Honor is the highest； the holiest possession of individuals； as it is of nations； and Prussia； who has placed her honor in our hands； must receive it from us pure and spotless。 If you agree with me； gentlemen； join me in this cry； 'Long live Prussia！ Long live Prussia's honor！'〃
The generals and officers joined enthusiastically in this cry； and like a mighty torrent it spread from mouth to mouth； until it reached the regiments； where it was repeated again and again。 The color…bearers unfurled their tattered banners； and the shout arose from thousands of throats； 〃Long live Prussia's honor！〃
The king's countenance was bright； but a tear seemed to glitter in his eye。 He raised his glance to heaven and murmured：
〃I swear to live so long as there is hope； so long as I am free！ I swear only to think of death when my liberty is threatened！〃 Slowly his glance returned to earth； and then in a powerful voice； he cried： 〃Onward！ onward！ that has ever been Prussia's watch…word； and it shall remain soOnward！ We have a great object be fore uswe must use every effort to keep the Russians out of Berlin。 The palladium of our happiness must not fall into the hands of our enemies。 The Oder and the Spree must be ourswe must recover to… morrow what the enemy wrenched from us yesterday！〃
〃Onward！ onward！〃 cried the army； and the words of the king bore courage and enthusiasm to all hearts。
Hope was awakened； and all were ready to follow the king； for however dark and threatening the horizon appeared； all had faith in the star of the king； and believed that it could never be extinguished。
BOOK V。
CHAPTER I。
THE TERESIANI AND THE PRUSSIANI。
At the splendid hotel of the 〃White Lion；〃 situated on the Canale Grande； a gondola had just arrived。 The porter sounded the great house…bell； and the host hastened immediately to greet the stranger； who； having left the gondola； was briskly mounting the small white marble steps that led to the beautiful and sumptuous vestibule of the hotel。
The stranger returned the host's profound and respectful salutation with a stiff military bow； and asked in forced and rather foreign Italian if he could obtain rooms。
Signer Montardo gazed at him with a doubtful and uncertain expression； and instead of answering his question； said：
〃Signor； it appears to me that you are a foreigner？〃
〃Yes；〃 said the stranger； smiling； 〃my Italian has betrayed me。 I am a foreigner； but hope that will not prevent your showing me comfortable and agreeable rooms。〃
〃Certainly not； signor； our most elegant and sumptuous apartment is at your command；〃 said the host； with a flattering smile。 In the mean time； however； he did not move from the spot； but gazed with confused and anxious countenance first at the stranger； and then at his large trunk； which the men were just lifting from the gondola。
〃Will you please show me the rooms？〃 cried the stranger； impatiently advancing into the hall。
The host sighed deeply； and threw a questioning glance at the head waiter； who returned it with a shrug of his shoulders。
〃I will first show you into the dining…saloon；〃 murmured the host； hastening after the stranger。 〃Will you please step in here； excellency？〃 and with humble submission he opened the large folding doors before which they stood； and conducted the stranger into the magnificent saloon which served as dining…saloon and ball…room。
〃Now； excellency；〃 continued the host； after he closed the door； and had convinced himself by a rapid glance that they were alone； 〃forgive my curiosity in asking you two questions before I have the honor of showing you your rooms。 How long do you intend to remain here？〃
〃A few days； sir。 Well； your second question？〃
The host hesitated a moment； then looking down； he said：
〃Your excellency is a German？〃
〃Yes； a German；〃 said the stranger； impatiently。
〃I thought so；〃 sighed the host。
〃Will you show me my rooms or not？ Decide quickly； for I know there are other handsome hotels on the Canale Grande where I would be willingly received。〃
The host bowed with an aggrieved expression。 〃Signor； I will show you rooms。 Will you have the kindness to follow me？〃
Like one who had come to a desperate decision； he advanced and pushed open a door which led to a long passage； with rooms on each side； he passed them all hastily； and entered a small； dark； side… passage； which was little in keeping with the general elegance of the building； the walls were not covered with tapestry； as those of the large halls； but with dirty whitewash； the floor had no carpet； and the doors of the rooms were low and small。
The host opened one of them and led the stranger into a small； simply…furnished room； with a little dark closet containing a bed。 〃Signor；〃 he said； with a profound bow； 〃these are； unfortunately； the only two rooms I can offer you。〃
〃They are small and mean；〃 said the stranger； angrily。
〃They are quiet and remote； and you will have the advantage of not being disturbed by the ball which the club of the Prussiani are to hold in my grand saloon to…night。〃
As he finished； he looked at the stranger hastily and searchingly； to see what impression his words had upon him。 He was decidedly astonished and confused。
〃The Prussian Club？〃 he said。 〃Are there so many Prussians here； and are they to celebrate a gay feast when it appears to me they have every reason to mourn for their king's misfortune？〃
It was now the stranger who gazed searchingly at the host； and awaited his answer with impatience。
〃You ask if there are many Prussians here？〃 said the host； pathetically。 〃Yes； there are a great many in la bella Venezia； eccellenza； chi non e buon Prussiano； non e buon Veneziano。 You say further； that the Prussians have no reason to celebrate a festival； but should mourn for their king's misfortunes。 No； your excellency； the Prussians will never have reason to despair； for a hero like the great Frederick can never