"I hope he will not. I should have the unpleasant duty of punching his head." If I could not kiss Gretchen nobody else should. "You are very strong." "Yes; and there are some things which add threefold to a man's strength." "Such as ----" She looked at me daringly. "Yes, such as ----" Her eyes fell before my glance, A delicate veil of rose covered her face for a moment. I wondered if she knew that it was only because I clinched my fists till the nails cut, that I did not do the very thing I feared the stragglers coming down the road might do. "Come," said I, peremptorily; "there is no need of your welcoming them here." So we entered the inn; and she began furbishing up the utensils, just to tease me more than anything else. Outside there was a clatter of hoofs, the chink of the spur, intermingled with a few oaths; and then the two representatives of the King came in noisily. They gazed admiringly at Gretchen as she poured out their beer. She saw the rage in my eyes. She was aggravating with her promiscuous smiles. The elder officer noticed my bulldog pipe. "English?" he inquired, indifferently. The German cannot disassociate an Englishman and a briarwood bulldog pipe. "English," I answered discourteously. It mattered nothing to me whether he took me for an Englishman or a Zulu; either answered the purpose. He wore an eyeglass, through which he surveyed me rather contemptuously. "What is your name, fraulein?" he asked turning to Gretchen. "Gretchen," sweetly. "And what is the toll for a kiss?" "Nothing," said Gretchen, looking at me. The lieutenant started for her, but she waved him off. "Nothing, Herr Lieutenant, because they are not for sale." I moved closer to the bar. "Out for a constitutional?" I asked, blowing the ash from the live coal in my pipe. "We are on his Majesty's business," with an intonation which implied that the same was none of mine. "Gretchen, we shall return to-night, so you may lay two plates at a separate table," with an eye on me. He couldn't have hated me any more than I hated him. "Then, there is no way of getting a kiss?" "No," said Gretchen. "Then I'll blow you one;" and Gretchen made a pretty curtesey. I nearly bit the amber stem off my pipe. They were soon gone, and I was glad of it. "Herr Jack is angry," said Gretchen. "Not at all," I growled. "What right have I to be angry?" "Does Herr Jack wish Gretchen always to be sad?" "Certainly not: but sometimes your joy is irritating. You are sad all day, then some strangers come, and you are all smiles. Your smiles do not come in my direction as often as I should like." "Well, then, look at me," said Gretchen. The smile would have dazzled an anchorite, let alone a man who didn't know whether he loved her for certain, but who was willing to give odds that he did! "Gretchen!" I cried, starting toward her.