Cheers and shouts went up, the loudest from some of Gustav’s rowdy friends as they began to sing:

“Viel Glück und viel Segen

Auf all Deinen Wegen,

Gesundheit und Frohsinn

Sei auch mit dabei.”

After everyone sang, Count von Schmundt emerged from the crowd, basking in the glow of the limelight in almost equal measure with his wife.

“I too have a few words,” he said. “Mine, however, take the form of an announcement, which it gives me great pleasure to make. As you know, the glorious Reich of our beloved Führer is dedicated to the preservation of peace throughout Europe. To this end, it gives me great pleasure and pride to announce that my son and heir, Gustav, whom we have just been toasting, will, perhaps as soon as two weeks from now, be joining the illustrious Luftwaffe!”

Another round of cheers and applause broke from the assembly.

With a glow of self-satisfaction, Gustav grinned widely and bowed, then rose slowly, not without some difficulty, raised one hand in the air, and said deliberately, still grinning with a stupid expression of drunkenness, “Heil Hitler!”

After a brief silence had again settled over the hall, he continued, “Now, Papa, Mama—it’s my turn. I too have an announcement, but first—a toast!”

He raised the glass still clutched in his left hand high in front of him. Everyone waited expectantly.

“To me!” he said at last, then followed his toast with a tittering laugh, put the glass to his lips, and drained off the contents in a single swallow.

“Hear! Hear!” said one.

“To Gustav!” cried out another voice.

“To the future hero of the skies!”

“Let’s hear it for the Luftwaffe!”

The raucous tone gave clear evidence that Gustav wasn’t the only one who had had just a little too much to drink.

The brief round of toasts and exclamations gradually silenced, and again Gustav raised his voice.

“And now for my announcement,” he said, by now slurring his words badly. As he spoke, he turned and walked a few steps to a nearby table, upon which sat a huge arrangement of multiple bouquets and floral settings. He reached into the midst of one and pulled out a long-stemmed, perfectly shaped, deep red rose. He turned back, though instead of resuming his position beside his mother he continued shuffling forward, still with the wide grin plastered across his face.

Suddenly, to Sabina’s horror, she realized he was coming straight toward the place where she and Matthew were standing!

Had Matthew divined his mean-spirited intent sooner, he would have found a way to get Sabina away and through the crowd. But by the time the truth dawned on him, there was Gustav standing before them, with every eye in the place riveted directly on him to see what would follow.

“I would like to make a birthday presentation of my own,” said Gustav effusively.