"It was so good to get your letter, Max. I thought--I thought you might stay awhile.

"No, Rudy. I am not so brave as you. This is no longer my country. I would be afraid every night that they would come for

me.

We guardsmen caused the rebels many casualties in the fighting, remember? They would still like to get us, I think. I don't know how you stand living here, Rudy."

"After all these years it does not matter, Max. One gets used He smiled to anything; one might even get to love it after a time." slowly. "Tell me, Max. How many of us are left? Do you know? I used to wonder at first, when I was so frightened."

"I am surprised you can live like this, not knowing. I would have gone mad. But you have nothing to fear from the guardsmen. There are only three, you and I of course, and Herman. You remem- ber him? The fat one? He has a butcher shop now, in Prague. Still the same only twice as big. They'll have to use a freight wagon for that one when he goes, I tell you."

"Those were splendid days, Max. Ah, how young we were and how proud to be in the queen's guards. And what an ending!

00

"Yes, but not an ending for you, Rudy." He peered earnestly at his host and nodded speculatively, the waning yellow light mak- ing him look like a sad bear. "What happened to you, Rudy? I never knew exactly. I was so worried."

"I, too, Maxie. You remember that afternoon when it started, our little war?"

And

"Remember! How well, Rudy. The army off to the south and Hoffmann marching unchallenged right up to the city walls. just the guardsmen to stay the advance. Do I remember! But how proud we were, we guardsmen, eh? What were the odds--a thousand to one? Not high enough for us. What demons we were then. Remember Victor?"

"The sergeant-major?"

Rudolphe nodded. "I remember him well. Little one, he used to call me. My saber dragged on the barracks floor. How ashamed I was of that. It was Victor's plan, you know. When Hoffmann, the monster, approached Victor said I was to stay in the palace and impersonate the princess. Was I angry!"

Max threw his head back and laughed heartily.

25.