When Adelaide had been carefully attended to, Rudolph sought his uncle
and guests in the great hall.

"Miss Julia Von Steinberg," said the soldier, "since confessions are
the order of the night, I must place mine on record. I met you to-day
in obedience to orders, believing my heart was my own. The event of
to-night has told me too truly that I had unconsciously lost it. But I
am a man of honor, and if you will accept my hand without my heart,
it is yours."

"Captain Ernstein," replied the beauty, "I thank you for your frank
confession. I cannot possibly accept your hand without your heart.
Nay--do not frown, father--I have a secret for your ear, and if you do
not wish to wreck your daughter's happiness, you will urge me no
further."

Von Steinberg frowned, and pshawed, and pished, and then, clearing his
voice, addressed the baron.

"Come, Von Rosenberg," said he, "confess that we have been acting like
a couple of old fools, in trying our hand at match making--it is a
business for the young people themselves, and not for old soldiers
like us. Say, shall we reduce the mutineers to obedience, or shall we
let them have it their own way?"

"Circumstances alter cases," answered the baron. "When I proposed for
Julia's hand, I didn't know my wife had a daughter to marry. And if
that were not the case, I am inclined to think the secret alluded to
by the young lady, would prove an insuperable obstacle to the
ratification of our treaty."