Hevisitedallthecastledefencesprettyaccuratelythatnight，andinquiredofhisofficersthestateoftheammunition，provisions，&c。Hesaidnothing；butthePrincessHelen’smaiddid:andeverybodyknewthattheRowskihadmadehisproposals，hadbeenrejected，and，gettingupinaviolentfury，hadcalledforhispeople，andswornbyhisgreatgodsthathewouldnotenterthecastleagainuntilherodeoverthebreach，lanceinhand，theconquerorofClevesandallbelongingtoit。
Nolittleconsternationwasspreadthroughthegarrisonatthenews:foreverybodyknewtheRowskitobeoneofthemostintrepidandpowerfulsoldiersinallGermany，——oneofthemostskilfulgenerals。Generoustoextravagancetohisownfollowers，hewasruthlesstotheenemy:ahundredstoriesweretoldofthedreadfulbarbaritiesexercisedbyhiminseveraltownsandcastleswhichhehadcapturedandsacked。AndpoorHelenhadthepainofthinking，thatinconsequenceofherrefusalshewasdoomingallthemen，women，andchildrenoftheprincipalitytoindiscriminateandhorribleslaughter。
Thedreadfulsurmisesregardingawarreceivedinafewdaysdreadfulconfirmation。Itwasnoon，andtheworthyPrinceofCleveswastakinghisdinnerthoughthehonestwarriorhadhadlittleappetiteforthatmealforsometimepast，whentrumpetswereheardatthegate；andpresentlytheheraldoftheRowskiofDonnerblitz，cladinatabardonwhichthearmsoftheCountwereblazoned，enteredthedining-hall。Apageboreasteelgauntletonacushion；BleuSanglierhadhishatonhishead。ThePrinceofClevesputonhisown，astheheraldcameuptothechairofstatewherethesovereignsat。”SilenceforBleuSanglier，”criedthePrince，gravely。”Sayyoursay，SirHerald。””InthenameofthehighandmightyRowski，PrinceofDonnerblitz，MargraveofEulenschreckenstein，CountofKrotenwald，Schnauzestadt，andGalgenhugel，HereditaryGrandCorkscrewoftheHolyRomanEmpire——toyou，AdolftheTwenty-third，PrinceofCleves，I，BleuSanglier，bringwaranddefiance。Alone，andlancetolance，ortwentytotwentyinfieldorinfort，onplainoronmountain，thenobleRowskidefiesyou。Here，orwhereverheshallmeetyou，heproclaimswartothedeathbetweenyouandhim。Intokenwhereof，hereishisglove。”Andtakingthesteelglovefromthepage，BleuBoarflungitclangingonthemarblefloor。
ThePrincessHelenturneddeadlypale:butthePrince，withagoodassurance，flungdownhisownglove，callinguponsomeonetoraisetheRowski’s；whichOttoaccordinglytookupandpresentedtohim，onhisknee。”Boteler，fillmygoblet，”saidthePrincetothatfunctionary，who，clothedintightblackhose，withawhitekerchief，andanapkinonhisdexterarm，stoodobsequiouslybyhismaster’schair。
ThegobletwasfilledwithMalvoisie:itheldaboutthreequarts；apreciousgoldenhanapcarvedbythecunningartificer，BenvenutotheFlorentine。”Drink，BleuSanglier，”saidthePrince，”andputthegobletinthybosom。Wearthischain，furthermore，formysake。”Andsosaying，PrinceAdolfflungapreciouschainofemeraldsroundtheherald’sneck。”AninvitationtobattlewaseverawelcomecalltoAdolfofCleves。”Sosaying，andbiddinghispeopletakegoodcareofBleuSanglier’sretinue，thePrinceleftthehallwithhisdaughter。