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While Loudon stood waiting； the two Prussian grenadiers slipped slyly to the other hut。
〃Let us go behind；〃 whispered Charles Henry。 〃There are no sentinels there； and perhaps we may find a door； and get into the house。〃
Behind the hut was a little garden whose thick shrubs and bushes gave complete concealment to the two grenadiers。 Noiselessly they sprang over the little fence； and made a reconnoissance of the terrainunseen； unnoticed； they drew near the house。 As they stepped from behind the bushes； Fritz Kober seized his friend's arm； and with difficulty suppressed a cry of joy。
The scene which was presented to them was well calculated to rejoice the hearts of brave soldiers。 They had reached the goal； and might now hope to fulfil the wishes of their king。 The quarters of the Russian general were plainly exposed to them。 In this great room； which was evidently the ball…room of the village； at a long oak… table； in the middle of the room； sat General Soltikow； and around him sat and stood the generals and officers。 At the door； half a dozen Cossacks were crouching； staring sleepily on the ground。 The room was brilliantly illuminated with wax…lights； and gave the two grenadiers an opportunity of seeing it in every part。 Fate appeared to favor them in every way； and gave them an opportunity to hear as well as see。 The window on the garden was opened to give entrance to the cool night air； and near it there was a thick branch of a tree in which a man could conceal himself。
〃Look there；〃 said Charles Henry； 〃I will hide in that tree。 We will make our observations from different stand…points。 Perhaps one of us may see what escapes the other。 Let us attend closely； that we may tell all to our king。〃
No man in this room guessed that in the silent little garden four flashing eyes were observing all that passed。
At the table sat the Russian commander…in…chief； surrounded by his generals and officers。 Before him lay letters； maps； and plans； at which he gazed from time to time； while he dictated an account of the battle to the officer sitting near him； Soltikow was preparing a dispatch for the Empress Elizabeth。 A few steps farther off； in stiff military bearing； stood the officers who were giving in their reports； and whose statements brought a dark cloud to the brow of the victorious commander。 Turning with a hasty movement of the head to the small man with the gold…embroidered uniform and the stiffly… frizzed wig； he said
〃Did you hear that； sir marquis？ Ten thousand of my brave soldiers lie dead upon the battle…field； and as many more are severely wounded。〃
〃It follows then；〃 said the Marquis Montalembert； the French commissioner between the courts of Vienna； Petersburg； and Paris； 〃it follows then； that the king of Prussia has forty thousand dead and wounded； and； consequently； his little army is utterly destroyed。〃
〃Who knows？〃 said Soltikow； 〃the king of Prussia is accustomed to sell his defeats dearly。 I should not be at all surprised if he had lost fewer soldiers than we have。〃 ＇Footnote： Soltikow's own words See Archenholtz； p 206。＇ 〃Well； I think he has now nothing more to lose；〃 said the marquis； laughing； 〃it rests with you to give the last coup de grace to this conquered and flying king； and forever prevent〃
The entrance of an officer interrupted him。 The officer announced General von Loudon。
Soltikow arose； and advanced to the door to welcome the Austrian general。 A proud smile was on his face as he gave his hand to Loudon； he did this with the air of a gracious superior who wished to be benevolent to his subordinate。
The quick； firm glance of Loudon seemed to read the haughty heart of his ally； and； no doubt for this reason； he scarcely touched Soltikow's hand。 With erect head and proud step he advanced into the middle of the room。
〃I resolved to come to your excellency；〃 said Loudon； in a sharp； excited tone； 〃you have a large room； while in my hut I could scarcely find accommodation for you and your adjutants。〃
〃You come exactly at the right hour；〃 said Soltikow； with a haughty smile； 〃you see； we were about to hold a council of war； and consider what remains to be done。〃
A dark and scornful expression was seen in Loudon's countenance； and his eyes rested fiercely upon the smiling face of Soltikow。
〃Impossible； general！ you could not have held a council of war without me；〃 said he； angrily。
〃Oh； be composed； general；〃 said Soltikow； smiling； 〃I would； without doubt； have informed you immediately of our conclusions。〃
〃I suppose you could not possibly have come to any conclusion in my absence；〃 said Loudon； the veins in whose forehead began to swell。
Soltikow bowed low； with the same unchanged and insolent smile。
〃Let us not dispute about things which have not yet taken place； your excellency。 The council of war had not commenced； but now that you are here； we may begin。 Allow me； however； first to sign these dispatches which I have written to my gracious sovereign； announcing the victory which the Russian troops have this day achieved over the army of the King of Prussia。〃
〃Ah； general； this time I am in advance of you；〃 cried Loudon； 〃the dispatches are already sent off in which I announced to my empress the victory which the Austrian troops gained over the Prussians。〃
Soltikow threw his head back scornfully； and his little gray eyes flashed at the Austrian。
Loudon went on； calmly： 〃I assure your excellency that enthusiasm at our glorious victory has made me eloquent。 I pictured to my empress the picturesque moment in which the conquering Prussians were rushing forward to take possession of the batteries deserted by the flying Russians； at which time the Austrian horsemen sprang； as it were； from the ground； checked the conquerors； and forced them back； and by deeds of lionlike courage changed the fate of the day。〃
While Loudon； seeming entirely cool and careless； thus spoke； the face of the Russian general was lurid with rage。 Panting for breath； he pressed his doubled fist upon the table。
Every one looked at him in breathless excitement and horrorall knew his passionate and unrestrained rage。 But the Marquis Montalembert hastened to prevent this outburst of passion； and before Soltikow found breath to speak； he turned with a gay and conciliating expression to Loudon。
〃If you have painted the battle of to…day so much in detail；〃 said he； 〃you have certainly not forgotten to depict the gallant conduct of the Russian troops to describe that truly exalted movement； when the Russians threw themselves to the earth； as if dead； before advancing columns of the Prussian army； and allowed them to pass over them； then； springing up； shot them in the back。〃 ＇Footnote： Archenholtz； Seven Years' War； p。 257。＇
〃Certainly I did not forget that；〃 said Loudon； whose noble； generous heart already repented his momentary passion and jealousy； 〃certainly； I am not so cowardly and so unconscionable as to deny the weighty share which the Russian army merit in the honor of this day； but you can well understand that I will not allow the gallant deeds of the Austrians to be swept away。 We have fought together and conquered together； and now let us rejoice together