"It is a short story, and I will tell it briefly. On the fifteenth of July I lay with my ship at the Roads of Southampton, destined for Bombay--captain of a full-rigged ship for the first time. On the evening of the sixteenth we were to sail. But on the morning of the sixteenth the news came that war had been declared; at noon, having already secured a suitable substitute, I severed my connection with the ship-owners and with my ship; in the evening I was in London; during the nights of the sixteenth and seventeenth on the way to Ostende by way of Brussels, down the Rhine to Coblenz, where I offered myself as a volunteer, was accepted, drilled a little, sent on, and--I don't know how it happened--assigned to the Ninth Corps, Eighteenth Division, ---- Regiment, in which I went through the campaign." "Were you promoted?" "To the rank of Corporal at Gravelotte; on the first of September, the day after the great sally of Bazaine, to the rank of Vice-Sergeant-Major; on the fourth of September----" "That was the day of Orléans?" "Yes, General--on the day of the battle of Orléans I received my commission as officer." "My congratulations on your rapid advancement!" said the General with a smile; but his face darkened again. "Why didn't you introduce yourself to me as comrade?" "The sea captain apologizes for the Reserve Lieutenant, General." "Did you receive a decoration?" "At your service! I received the Cross with my commission." "And you don't wear the decoration?" "My dress is a little disordered today," replied Reinhold. Mieting burst into laughter, in which Reinhold freely joined; and the others smiled--polite, approving, flattering smiles, as it seemed to the Count. "I fear we have taxed the patience of the ladies too long," he said with a significant gesture. * * * * * [Mieting and Else are alone in their room. Mieting declares her love for the captain, declaring he is just her ideal of a man. She then unbraids her long hair, which reaches to her feet, tells Else all her little love stories, kisses her and runs off to bed.