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and now let us rejoice together over the glorious result。〃
Loudon gave his hand to Soltikow with so friendly an expression that he could not withstand it。 〃You are right； Loudon； we will rejoice together over this great victory；〃 cried he。 〃Wine； here！ We will first drink a glass in honor of the triumph of the day； then we will empty a glass of your beautiful Rhine wine to the friendship of the Austrians and Russians。 Wine here！ The night is long enough for council； let us first celebrate our victory。〃
The Cossacks； at a sign from the adjutants； sprang from the floor and drew from a corner of the room a number of bottles and silver cups； which they hastened to place upon the table。 The secretaries moved the papers； maps； etc。； and the table； which a moment before had quite a business…like aspect； was now changed into an enticing buffet。
Soltikow looked on enraptured； but the marquis cast an anxious and significant look upon the Austrian general； which was answered with a slight shrug of the shoulders。 Both knew that the brave General Soltikow； next to the thunder of cannon and the mad whirl of battle； loved nothing so well as the springing of corks and the odor of wine。 Both knew that the general was as valiant and unconquerable a soldier as he was a valiant and unconquerable drinkerwho was most apt while drinking to forget every thing else but the gladness of the moment。 The marquis tried to make another weak attempt to remind him of more earnest duties。
〃Look you； your excellency； your secretaries appear very melancholy。 Will you not first hold a council of war？ and we can then give ourselves undisturbed to joy and enjoyment。〃
〃Why is a council of war necessary？〃 said Soltikow； sinking down into a chair and handing his cup to the Cossack behind him to be filled for the second time。 〃Away with business and scribbling！ The dispatches to my empress are completed； seal them； Pietrowitch； and send the courier off immediately； every thing else can wait till morning。 Come； generals； let us strike our glasses to the healths of our exalted sovereigns。〃
Loudon took the cup and drank a brave pledge； then when he had emptied the glass he said： 〃We should not be satisfied with sending our exalted sovereigns the news of the day's victoryit lies in our hands to inform them of the complete and irrevocable defeat of the enemy。〃
〃How so？〃 said Soltikow； filling up his cup for the third time。
〃If now； in place of enjoying this comfortable rest； and giving our enemy time to recover himself； we should follow up the Prussians and cut off the king's retreat； preventing him from taking possession of his old camp at Reutven； we would then be in a condition to crush him completely and put an end to this war。〃
〃Ah； you mean that we should break up the camp at once；〃 said Soltikow； 〃that we should not grant to our poor； exhausted soldiers a single hour of sleep； but lead them out again to battle and to death？ No； no； sir general； the blood of my brave Russians is worth as much as the blood of other men； and I will not make of them a wall behind which the noble Dutchmen place themselves in comfortable security； while we offer up for them our blood and our life。 I think we Russians have done enough； we do not need another victory to prove that we are brave。 When I fight another such battle as I have fought to…day； with my staff in my hand and alone I must carry the news to Petersburg； for I shall have no soldiers left。＇ Footnote： 〃Frederick the Great。〃Geschow； p。 200。＇ I have nothing to say against you； General Loudon。 You have been a faithful ally； we have fought； bled； and conquered together； although not protected by a consecrated hat and sword like Field…Marshal Daun； who ever demands new victories from us while he himself is undecided and completely inactive。〃
〃Your excellency seems to be somewhat embittered against Daun；〃 said Loudon； with a smile he could not wholly suppress。
〃Yes；〃 said Soltikow； 〃I am embittered against this modern Fabius Cunctator； who finds it so easy to become renownedwho remains in Vienna and reaps the harvest which belongs rightly to you； General Loudon。 You act； while he hesitatesyou are full of energy and ever ready for the strife； Daun is dilatory； and while he is resolving whether to strike or not； the opportunity is lost。〃
〃The empress； my exalted sovereign； has honored him with her especial confidence；〃 said Loudon； 〃he must therefore merit it。〃
〃Yes； and in Vienna they have honored you and myself with their especial distrust；〃 said Soltikow； stormily； and swallowing a full cup of wine。 〃You； I know； receive rare and scanty praise； eulogies must be reserved for Daun。 We are regarded with inimical and jealous eyes； and our zeal and our good…will are forever suspected。〃
〃This is true；〃 said Loudon； smiling； 〃it is difficult for us to believe in the sincere friendship of the Russians； perhaps； because we so earnestly desire it。〃
〃Words； words！〃 said Soltikow； angrily。 〃The German has ever a secret aversion to the Russianyou look upon us as disguised tigers； ever ready to rob and devour your glorious culture and accomplishments。 For this reason you gladly place a glass shade over yourselves when we are in your neighborhood； and show us your glory through a transparent wall that we may admire and envy。 When you are living in peace and harmony； you avoid us sedulously； then the German finds himself entirely too educated； too refined； for the barbaric Russian。 But when you quarrel and strive with each other； and cannot lay the storm； then you suddenly remember that the Russian is your neighbor and friend； that he wields a good sword； and knows how to hew with it right and left。 You call lustily on him for help； and offer him your friendshipthat means； just so long as hostilities endure and you have use for us。 Even when you call us your friends you distrust us and suspect our good…will。 Constant charges are brought against us in Vienna。 Spresain languishes in chainsAustria charges him with treachery and want of zeal in the good cause； Fermor and Butterlin are also accused of great crimes they have sought to make both their sincerity and ability suspected by the empress； and to bring them into reproach。 This they have not deserved。 I know； also； that they have charged me with disinclination to assist the alliesthey declare that I have no ardor for the common cause。 This makes bad blood； messieurs； and if it were not for the excellent wine in your beautiful Germany； I doubt if our friendship would stand upon a sure footing。 Therefore； sir general； take your cup and let us drink togetherdrink this glorious wine to the health of our friendship。 Make your glasses ring； messieurs； and that the general may see that we mean honorably with our toast； empty them at a draught。〃
They all accepted the challenge and emptied a cup of the old； fiery Rhine wine； which Soltikow so dearly loved； their eyes flashed； their cheeks were glowing。
Loudon saw this with horror； and he cast an anxious glance at Montalembert； who returned it with a significant shrug of the shoulder。
〃And now； your excellency；〃 said Loudon； 〃that we have enjoyed the German wine； let us think a little of Germany and the en