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"Your excellency," said he in German, stepping forward and

addressing the Austrian general, "I have the honor to

congratulate you."

He bowed his head and scraped first with one foot and then with

the other, awkwardly, like a child at a dancing lesson.

The member of the Hofkriegsrath looked at him severely but,

seeing the seriousness of his stupid smile, could not but give

him a moment's attention. He screwed up his eyes showing that he

was listening.

"I have the honor to congratulate you. General Mack has arrived,

quite well, only a little bruised just here," he added, pointing

with a beaming smile to his head.

The general frowned, turned away, and went on.

"Gott, wie naiv!" * said he angrily, after he had gone a few

steps.

* "Good God, what simplicity!"