“No, it is a fact,” said Krause seriously.  “Pfannenstiel is, as you know, not only a prophet, but also a quack doctor, and his herbs and decoctions are certainly often of astonishing efficacy.  He always gathers the plants for his mixtures himself, and roams about in search of them in the neighborhood of Berlin for days together.  Last evening he was outside the town, on one of these tramps, intending to pass the night sleeping under a tree.  He was awoke by the sound of troops marching, and as he looked carefully around, he could plainly distinguish in the bright moonlight the uniforms of the Russian army.  It was a long column of many thousand men.  They halted not far from the place where Pfannenstiel lay, and he crept carefully nearer.  He then ascertained from their conversation that this was only a small division of the army, which had advanced by forced marches from Frankfort, and was commanded by General Tottleben.”

“By Tottleben!” cried Kretschmer in dismay.

“Yes, by Tottleben,” whimpered Krause, and they both looked in silence on the ground.  “Yes, his vengeance will be terrible,” said Krause, after a long and anxious pause.  “Have you not heard,” continued he in whisper—­“have you not heard the sad story of what occurred last year in Erlangen?  The editor of the Erlangen Gazette admitted into his columns an article abusive of our great king.  A Prussian officer came in person to Erlangen to call the editor to account.  And what do you think he did?  He caused the unfortunate and pitiable journalist to be beaten with cudgels, and then gave him a receipt for the bastinado he had gotten.”

“Horrible!” cried Mr. Kretschmer, wringing his hands.

Mr. Krause continued:  “When a refined Prussian, officer can behave in this way, what have we to expect from these rough, uncivilized enemies, the Russians?  Oh! they will murder us, for we, too, have ventured to write boldly and energetically against them.”

“Yes, you particularly,” said Mr. Kretschmer quickly.  “Do you recollect the famous article in your paper, in which you called General Tottleben a notorious adventurer, who had deserted to the enemy after having enjoyed the unmerited favor of our king?  This was, certainly, rather strong; it might even be called indiscreet.”

“Not as indiscreet as your ‘Earnest and Confidential Country Talk,’” cried Krause sharply.

“I never avowed myself the author of that pamphlet,” said Kretschmer quickly.

“But every one knows that you are, and you never denied it,” replied Krause maliciously.  “This ‘Country Talk’ is more than indiscreet, it is foolhardy.  In it you nicknamed Maria Theresa, Aunt Tilla; the Elector of Saxony, Brother Osten; the Empress of Russia, Cousin Lizzy; and our king, Neighbor Flink.  And don’t you remember what words you put into Cousin Lizzie’s mouth, and how you made neighbor Flink ridicule her?  Ah, I am afraid you will pay dearly for this” piece of boldness.”