Now, he had two more new friends, and it occurred to him
that these maids also might be of use to him in his great quest. He had
formed his plan and like a good general he was marshaling every possible
force for its success.
While he was thinking about it, the convalescent came, a young officer,
trim, slender, in a fine uniform of blue and silver. It was none other
than that same lad, Leopold Kratzek, whom he had saved in the fight at
the trench. In his surprise John came very near to greeting him by name,
but luckily he controlled himself in time.
He noticed that Kratzek was almost entirely recovered. The color in his
face was fresh, his walk was firm and elastic, and John was glad of it.
He liked the lad whose life he had saved. He recalled, too, that his
presence there was not strange. Kratzek was the relative of Auersperg,
and it was natural that he should be sent to Zillenstein to recover.
The young Austrian glanced at the new groom, but there was no sign of
recognition on his face.
"I have not seen you before," he said.
"No, sir," replied John, "I've just come today. I've been wandering
eastward from Lorraine, where I was born, and the Herr Walther has been
kind enough to give me work."
"You're the man of whom I heard Pappenheim speak so well. He has been
telling us all how a wandering peasant rode that black devil of his.
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