"Such a beautiful water colour. A lovely lady on horseback. Did you paint it yourself?"
"I don't know what lady on horseback you mean."
"She is riding on a white horse, and she looks a little like Gesima. And there is something written underneath: 'Hilda Maria Anita de Weissenstein, Née the Baroness'… What does that mean, 'Née the Baroness'?"
The Foolish Student came rushing through the door in great excitement.
"Where did you find that picture? See, we'll hide it again quickly."
And he shoved it hastily into a portfolio, which he locked with a little key. Immediately he had a long and painful attack of coughing.
When his breath came back a little he said, "Gerold, I envy you your General of Cadets. You defeated him, and you hold and can keep him prisoner. As for my general—Alas! Alas! But now come. The altar is all ready."
A stone bench near the cabin was covered with a red cloth and above it, at the back of an empty niche in the rock, were stuck two coloured wax candles.
"One for you and one for me, explained the Foolish Student. "As for the image of the saint behind the candles, you must imagine it. Each can put there whatever he holds most dear. Now come, we must pray to the holy image,-a short prayer. You may sit down on the stool here, and you don't have to fold your hands unless you want to. 'May no evil ever come to us through those we love.' That's enough. The prayer is over and it's time for the hymn. But we have to light the candles first."
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