But tell us first, how were you captured ?" "I was riding through the mist to find the marshal; whom I had not seen for two hours, as I was with the regiment that defended the church at Hochkirch, and then cut its way out through the Austrians.

The mist was so thick that I could not see ten yards ahead, and rode plump into an Austrian battalion.

They fired a volley that killed poor Turk, and before I could get on my feet I was surrounded and taken prisoner--not a very heroic way, I must admit." "A much pleasanter way, though, than that of being badly wounded, and so found on the field by the enemy," the countess said; "and you were fortunate, indeed, in getting through that terrible battle unhurt." "I was, indeed, countess; but I would far rather have lost a limb than my dear friend and relation, the marshal.

I was allowed to attend his funeral the next day.

The Austrians paid him every honour and, though I have mourned for him most deeply, I cannot but feel that it was the death he would himself have chosen.