“'Then Bey'm Blitzen I will deliver it, and see how you 'll like it,' cried he, as he stumped away down a passage and entered a room at the end of it. I could soon hear the sound of voices, and for the moment I was almost determined to beat a retreat, when suddenly the old Jager came out and beckoned me forward. There was a grin of most diabolical delight on the old fellow's features as I passed into the room and closed the door behind me. “As well as I could see in the imperfect light, for it was after sunset, the apartment was large and low-ceilinged, with bookshelves round the walls, and stands for weapons and military equipments here and there through it. At the stove, and busily engaged in watching a coffee-pot, sat the Feld himself, a loose gray overcoat covering his figure, and concealing all of him but two immense jackboots that peeped out beneath. He wore a Mütze, a kind of Hungarian cap, and a long pipe depended from his mouth, the bowl resting on the carpet. The most conspicuous feature of all was, however, his enormous moustache, which, white as snow, touched his collar-bone at either side. “He never spoke a word as I entered, but stared at me steadfastly and sternly for full three or four minutes. Half abashed by this scrutiny, and indignant besides at the reception, I was about to-- [Illustration: 071] “'Franz Carl Infantry, third battalion,' said I, instantly saluting with my hand. “'Your name?' “'Frank Dalton.' “'Your business?' “'To visit my grand-uncle, the Field-Marshal von Auersberg.' “'And is it thus, younker,' cried he, rising, and drawing himself up to his full height, 'that you dare to present yourself before a Feldzeugmeister of the Imperial Army? Have they not taught you even the commonest rules of discipline? Have they left you in the native barbarism of your own savage country, that you dare, against my orders, present yourself before me?' “'I thought the claim of kindred--' began I. “'What know I of kindred, sirrah? What have kith and kin availed _me?_ I have stood alone in the world. It was not to kindred I owed my life on the field of Rosbach; nor was it a relative stanched my bleeding wounds at Wagram!' “'The name of Dalton--' “'I have won a prouder one, sir, and would not be reminded by you from what I 've started. Where 's your character- certificate?' “'I have not brought it with me, Herr General. I scarcely thought it would be the first question my father's uncle would put to me.'