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SUNDAY THE FIRST OF NOVEMBER 345
and modest like an ordinary mortal. When one knows that
he has recently experienced the greatest private sorrow which
could befall him, one fancies, perhaps, that one detects a trace
thereof in his features—an air of sadness—but otherwise he
does not betray, by a look or a sigh, how deeply he grieves
over the death of the little prince of thirteen, the darling of
all Bavaria. When the country and the empire are in danger,
all private sorrows must be put aside ! The Crown Prince has
no time to grieve or to think of the void and bereavement
which he will feel on his victorious return to Munich. He lives
for and with his army, and is like a father to each and all of
his soldiers. He devotes all his power of mind, all his physical
strength, all his time, to the one great object which dominates
all else in the minds of the whole German army.
Crown Prince Rupprecht walks in with brisk and easy stride,
stretches out his hands towards us and gives us a truly cordial
welcome. And then he adds half-humorously : "I expect
some other distinguished guests at my table to-night."
" Who can that be ? " asks the Duke.
" The Emperor !
" replies the Crown Prince, and claps his
hands together.
" The Emperor ? " we cry, for we had no idea that His
Majesty was in this part of the country.
" Yes, the Emperor has visited several units in this neigh-
bourhood to-day, and has promised . . . Hush, I hear his
car !
" and with that the Crown Prince hurried out.
Meanwhile the Officers of the General Staff of the Army
came to greet us, and presently the Emperor’s suite, among
whom I knew several, also entered. Before I had time to
wonder where the supreme War-Lord himself had gone, we
were asked to step into the dining-room. The Emperor was
already seated at the table. We all stepped up to our chairs,
but no one seated himself. The Emperor sat with bowed
head, looking very grave. But suddenly his blue eyes flashed
up, and he nodded kindly in all directions. When he caught
sight of me, he extended his hand across the table and cried
gaily: " Guten Tag, mein lieber Sven Hedin; es scheini Ihnen
gut zu gefalien in meiner Armee,"^ a sentiment which I con-
firmed with the greatest alacrity.
Perhaps it might amuse the reader to hear who were the
1 " How do you do, my dear Sven Hedin ; you seem rather to like being
with my Army."
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