Two figures moved in the garden beneath.  At first he gave no attention to them.  But when the two heads came together swiftly, and then separated, both smiling, he realized that he had witnessed a kiss.  Ah, here was the opportunity; and, by the Lord Harry, he would not let it slip.  If this fellow meant wrongly toward Gretchen—­and how could he mean else?—­he, Carmichael, would take the matter boldly in his hands to do some caning.  He laughed.  Here would be another souvenir; to have caned—­

He jumped to his feet, dropped his pipe on the sill of the window, and made for his hat and sword-cane.  The clerk went on with his writing.  Nothing the consul did these days either alarmed or distracted him.

To gain the garden Carmichael would have to pass through the tavern.  The first person he encountered was Colonel von Wallenstein.  The sight of this gentleman changed his plans for the moment.  He had a presentiment that this would became rather a complicated affair.  He waited.  Wallenstein spoke to Fraeu Bauer, who answered him with cold civility.  She heartily despised this fine officer.  Wallenstein twirled his mustache, laughed and went into the garden.  Carmichael was in a quandary.  What should he do?

Neither Gretchen nor the vintner saw Wallenstein, who remained quietly by the door.  He watched them with an evil smile.  He would teach this pretty fellow a lesson.  After some deliberation he walked lightly toward the lovers.  They did not hear him till he was almost upon them.

“A pretty picture!”

Gretchen colored and the vintner flushed, the one with dismay and the other with anger.

“A charming idyl!”

“Leave us, Gretchen,” said the vintner, with a deceiving gentleness.

Gretchen started reluctantly down the path, her glance bravely before her.  She knew that Wallenstein would not move; so she determined to go round him.  She was not afraid to leave her vintner alone with this officer.  But she miscalculated the colonel’s reckless audacity.  As she stepped off the path to go round him he grasped her rudely and kissed her on the cheek.  She screamed as much in surprise as in anger.

And this scream brought Carmichael upon the scene.  He was witness to the second kiss.  He saw the vintner run forward and dash his fist into the soldier’s face.  Wallenstein, to whom such an assault was unexpected, fell back, hurt and blinded.  The vintner, active as a cat, saw Carmichael coming on a run.  He darted toward him, and before Carmichael could prevent him, dragged the sword-cane away.  The blade, thin and pliant, flashed.  And none too soon.  The colonel had already drawn his saber.

“Save him!” Gretchen wrung her hands.

The two blades met spitefully, and there were method and science on both sides.  But the sword-cane was no match for the broad, heavy saber.  Half a dozen thrusts and parries convinced the colonel that the raging youth knew what he was doing.  Down swooped the saber cuttingly.  The blade of the sword-cane snapped like a pipe-stem.  The vintner flung the broken part at the colonel’s head.  The latter dodged it and came on, and there was death’s intent.