“Is his information reliable?”

“Of course!  As no one suspected him, the whole matter was discussed freely before him.”

“And he betrayed the secret?”

“Yes, because he greatly admires your honor and wasn’t willing to see you treated so.”

“Karl, give him ten ducats from my purse and tell him I will take him in my own service, for he has afforded me great pleasure.  The outing to-morrow will be a hundred times more amusing than I had hoped—­indeed more amusing than any I have ever undertaken in my life.”

“Your honor will go to Langfuehr, then!”

“Certainly, Karl.  We will go together, and you shall see if I misled you when I promised you a delightful morning.”

As soon as Baron de Trenck had completed his toilet, he visited M. Scherer, the Russian resident, spent a few moments in private with him and then returned to his apartments for dinner.

Lieutenant Henry arrived soon afterward.  Trenck found delight in the course of dissimulation to which he stood committed.  He overwhelmed his guest with courteous attentions, pressing upon him the finest wines and his favorite fruits, meanwhile beaming upon him with an affection that overspread his whole countenance, and expatiating freely upon the delights of the morrow’s ride.

Henry accepted his attentions with his accustomed dreamy manner.

The next morning, at half past nine, when the lieutenant arrived, he found Trenck awaiting him.

The two officers rode off, followed by their servants, and took the road to Langfuehr.  Trenck’s audacity was terrifying.  Even Karl, who was well aware of his master’s great ability and cleverness, was nevertheless uneasy, and Franz, who was less familiar with the baron’s character, was in a state of the greatest alarm.

The country, beautiful with its verdant grasslands, its budding bushes and flowers, its rich fields of wheat, dotted with spring blossoms, revealed itself to their delighted eyes.  In the distance glistened the tavern of Langfuehr, with its broad red and blue stripes and its tempting signboard that displayed a well-appointed festive table.

The low door in the wall that enclosed the tavern courtyard was still closed.  Inside, to the right of that door, was a little terrace, and against the wall was an arbor formed of running vines and ivy.

Lieutenant Henry, pausing near a clump of trees some two hundred paces from the tavern, said: 

“Baron, our horses will be in the way in that little courtyard.  I think it would be well to leave them here in the care of our servants until our return.”

Trenck assented readily.  He sprang from his horse and tossed his bridle to his valet and Henry did the same.

The path leading to the tavern was enchanting, with its carpet of flowers and moss, and the two young men advanced arm in arm in the most affectionate manner.  Karl and Franz watched them, overwhelmed with anxiety.