Sturm gave a cry of rage and raised his whip to strike his young officer, but observing Frederic's complete calm he let it fall. "Who threatens strikes, sir," Frederic answered, "and it is as if you had struck me." He turned to the table and wrote a few lines. Then he opened the door of the ante-room and calling the officers who were there: "Gentlemen, he said, I confide this paper to your loyalty. Read what it says aloud." "I tender my resignation as chief of General Sturm's staff and officer in the Prussian army. "Dated at noon July 22nd, 1866. "FREDERIC VON BÜLOW." "Which means?" asked Sturm. "Which means that I am no longer in His Majesty's service nor in yours, and that you have insulted me. Gentlemen, this man raised his horsewhip over me. And having insulted me, you owe me reparation. Keep my resignation, gentlemen, and bear witness that I am free from all military duty at the moment I tell this man that he is no longer my chief, and consequently that I am not his inferior. Sir, you have injured me mortally, and I will kill you, or you will kill me." Sturm burst out laughing. "You give your resignation," he said, "well, I do not accept it. Place yourself in confinement. Sir," said he, stamping his foot and walking towards Frederic, "to prison for fifteen days with you." "You have no longer the right to give me an order," said Frederic, detaching his epaulettes. Sturm, exasperated, livid, foaming at the mouth, again raised his whip upon the chief of his staff, but this time he slashed his cheek and shoulder with it. Frederic, who until now had held himself in, uttered a cry of rage, made a bound aside and drew his sword. "Imbecile," shouted Sturm, with a burst of laughter, "you will be shot after a court martial." At this Frederic lost his head completely and threw himself upon the general, but he found four officers in his path. One whispered to him: "Save yourself; we will calm him." "And I," said Frederic, "I who have been struck; who will calm me?" "We give you our word of honour that we have not seen the blow," said the officers. "But _I_ have _felt_ it. And as I have given my word of honour that one of us must die, I must act accordingly. Adieu, gentlemen." Two of the officers trying to follow him: "Thunders and tempests! gentlemen," called the general after them. "Come back; no one leaves this room except this madman who will be arrested by the provost marshal." The officers came back hanging their heads. Frederic burst out of the room. The first person he met on the stairs was the old Baroness von Beling. "Gracious heavens! what are you doing with a drawn sword?" she asked. He put the sword in its scabbard. Then he ran to his wife and embraced her and the baby. * * * * * Ten minutes later an explosion was heard in Frederic's room. Benedict, who was with Karl, rushed to it and burst open the door.