"That is true enough," agreed Meyer. "And who is in command of this imposing force?" "Bernhardt." "Indeed! And the second in command?" "A cursed American." Meyer smiled. "That describes Herr Trafford admirably," he said. "But how about yourself, Von Hügelweiler? How is it you are not occupying a distinguished position in this amiable field-force?" "Because there are limits even to my dishonour," retorted Von Hügelweiler fiercely. "In transferring my services from his Majesty King Karl to her Majesty Queen Gloria, I knew I was sinking, but I only learned a little while ago to what great depths." "You are the man who was sent to hold the Strafeburg for me," said Karl sternly, "and who handed it over to the mob rather than risk your skin." "I did not yield to fear," retorted the Captain, turning almost savagely on his sovereign. "I yielded to an even more odious thing--passion. The Princess pleaded with me, balancing her woman's grace against my loyalty. I could face the fury of the multitude, but I succumbed to the blandishments of a wanton!" The word drew an exclamation of surprise and indignation from Saunders. "And you had your reward!" he said with a sneer. "Aye, I have had my reward," was the bitter answer. "Love such as mine always has its reward. I learned who it was upon whom the fickle Gloria had bestowed her worthless heart. Who was it, do you think? A nobleman, a great soldier, a Prince? No! She was conducting a guilty intrigue with the schweinhund Trafford--the man who betrayed his party by immuring the enemy in a spikeless _Eisenmädchen_. "Yes, that's true enough," said Karl. "The schweinhund Trafford, as you call him, possesses some rudimentary ideas of humanity, despite his absurd predilection for anarchy. I may remember that when my time comes." "It was an act of folly and weakness," said the Captain recklessly, "an act of treachery to the side he had espoused. As soon as I heard of it I hastened to Bernhardt's chambers with the news." "And he said?" asked Karl. "He said he loved and hated you," replied the Captain. Karl nodded thoughtfully. "I believe that expresses his mental attitude towards me very well," he said. "It was the mad paradox of an _absintheur_," Von Hügelweiler interrupted. "He was half drunk and wholly dangerous, and I left him. I roused the people against Trafford, but the scoundrel defended himself cunningly, and in the end the devil-ridden Bernhardt turned up and rescued him with a troop of Dragoons." "And why are you here?" asked General Bilderbaum. "For one thing, there are two hundred kronen on my head in Weidenbruck," replied Von Hügelweiler. "That makes the place unhealthy. Neither do I desire to serve that delightful trinity, the wanton Queen, the dipsomaniac priest, and the _verdomte_ American." "But why come here?" persisted Bilderbaum, growing, if possible, still redder in the face. Von Hügelweiler ignored the speaker, and turned to Karl.