"Oh, how clumsy of me!" cried Madame Balzer. "I have hurt you with my scissors; I beg a thousand pardons!" And she quickly pressed the handkerchief she had applied to the wound upon the wrist of the young countess. "Pray do not mind about it," said Clara kindly; "do not let us lose our time over this little scratch when there are so many serious wounds to think of." And she slowly withdrew her arm, which Madame Balzer was still rubbing with her handkerchief as if to remove the blood. Clara held out the strip of linen which she had in her hand and said: "Pray take some." Madame Balzer quickly cut a piece off with her scissors, returned graceful thanks, and after again apologizing for her awkwardness, returned to the corpse. Several ladies who had witnessed the little scene hastened to the litter. "The man is dead!" they cried, "nothing can be done here!" Madame Balzer gazed sorrowfully on the corpse. "Yes, he is dead!" she said, "we were too late!" And folding her hands she bowed her head and moved her lips in whispered prayer. Deep devotion appeared on her features. The ladies around followed her example, and uttered a short prayer for the soul of the deceased, whose return was perhaps ardently desired in some distant home. Then they all went on to other beds. One of the few gentlemen dispersed amongst the numerous and compassionate nurses, assisting and advising, was Count Rivero. He was not far off when Madame Balzer hurried to Clara to beg for some linen. His large dark eyes rested thoughtfully on the two beautiful women during their short conversation; then he turned slowly away and walked in a contrary direction. A few hours later the station was empty; the ladies had all returned either to their luxurious palaces or quiet family circles; the poor wounded soldiers had been conveyed to hospitals, to struggle to convalescence, after long days of suffering, or to die. CHAPTER XXVI. INSTRUMENTS OF THE CHURCH. The morning sun shone brightly into Lieutenant von Stielow's room. But not as yesterday did he lie stretched upon his couch in happy dreams; he paced to and fro, with quick and restless footsteps, his pale face looked painfully anxious, and it was evident he had passed a sleepless night.