"'But try the effect of a few round shot in the defile,' persisted the wounded man. 'A devil of a day this for us, Father Frederick! Macchiavelli, in his 'Art of War,' declares the invention of gun-powder a mere matter of smoke, not to be deemed of the smallest importance. Ach, Gott! I wish he was here before Prague with this Austrian bullet in the calf of his leg.' "'What, my friend, you are a reader as well as a soldier?' "'Yes, sire, I have had the honour to read all the works of your majesty.' "'A man of sense!" said Frederick, taking a pinch of rappee; 'your name?' "'Peter Schreutzer, of Colonel Warriston's battalion of the Guards.' "Frederick drew from one of his fingers a ring of small value (he was not a man given to trinkets or adornment), and gave it to the soldier, saying: "'If you escape this field of Prague, bring this ring to me yourself, comrade Peter.' "Mounting his horse, he galloped after his retreating army, and overtaking a few pieces of artillery he posted them on the height indicated by Schreutzer, and opened fire on the wooded defile--a measure which dislodged a great ambuscade of Marshal Daun's infantry, and saved from destruction the Prussian left wing, the retreat of which was nobly covered by the Warriston battalion. "Three months after this, when Frederick was seated in his tent, surrounded by his staff and dictating orders, a private of the Guards limped in, supported by a stick, and kneeling presented him with a ring. "'Ach, Gott, what is this?' said Frederick; 'Oho, 'tis my student of Macchiavelli; well, comrade, I followed your advice and saved my left wing.' "'Thank God, who inspired me with the idea!' said Schreutzer. "'For that day's work I name you a captain in the Line,' exclaimed the king. "At Rosbach, where in the same year Frederick defeated the French, Peter gained his majority in the morning and his lieutenant-colonelcy in the evening. Then came the affair of Dresden, where the advice given by him at a council of war was so sound and skilful that he was appointed major-general. What think you of that, my young volunteer--in one year to have the private's shoulder-knot replaced by the aiguilette of a general officer?" "It was talent, but strangely favoured by kingly caprice," said Monkton. "Schreutzer succeeded my father in command of the Guards, when he fell under Frederick's displeasure and quitted the Prussian service in disgust. Remind me on the march to-morrow to tell you how that came about, for it is rather a good story." "And now to bed," said Monkton, who had imbibed a considerable quantity of wine; "at last we may put our 'beating orders' in the fire, for march is the word!" "What are they?" asked Quentin.