"A brave soldier is always welcome here--even though an enemy," replied Christian, with a haughty bow, to which the count replied by another quite as haughty. "Duke, I have received your fatal despatch, and M'Alpine the Scottish captain has told me all--all--and more than I could have wished to hear. And these ladies, count, are your daughters?" "In my ardour to rescue whom, I this day stand before your majesty a prisoner," replied the count. "Nay," said Christian; "Duke Bernard, I understand, has but anticipated me. Saved from that mass of drowning cowards at Heilinghafen, you are not a prisoner, but a freeman, and must retain the sword my general returned to you--_Ironhewer_, the theme of so many camp songs. But enough of this--lead forward these fair girls. By the Dannebrog! John of Rantzau, they are beautiful as summer flowers!" On being presented, Ernestine and Gabrielle were about to kneel, when the brave king anticipated them, by kneeling and kissing their hands. Anna Catharina smiled disdainfully, and threw a furtive glance at the drooping Countess of Fehmarn, her rival of the left-hand. A gleam of pleasure passed over the features of Carlstein, and he said, while his eyes moistened---- "Your majesty does my poor girls infinite honour." "Nay, count, I stand as a soldier before them; but as a king before you. We cannot pay too much homage to beauty. I have said, count, that you are free, and you may, when you please, rejoin the Imperialists." "I owe your majesty a thousand thanks; but, with these two girls, how can I now, unattended, pursue a journey so long and so difficult--through hostile Juteland?" "Ah--that is true!" grumbled old Rantzau, rubbing his thick beard; "der teufels braden!" "Count of Carlstein," said the old queen-dowager, in high Dutch, "alone you may rejoin your comrades, but these poor maidens could never survive the toil and danger of such a journey." "True--madam--true!" said the count. "Where you go, father, Ernestine will go, too," said his eldest daughter, with a proud smile, as she clasped her hands upon his arm. "And I, too," said Gabrielle, clinging to him on the other side.