He was on fire with eagerness and curiosity, and there was apprehension too.

Would his trust take him away from Julie at a time when he was needed most?
It must not be so, and his faith was strong that it would not be so.

Yet his heart was beating very hard and his impatience for the night to come was great.

But he strove his utmost to preserve at least the appearance of calmness.

He saw that Walther was full of curiosity and now and then asked indirect questions, but John remembering his instructions gave no answer.
Once he passed Ilse and Olga, those twin spirits of mischief and kindness, and they stopped him to speak of the great company that was coming.
"They say it's to be the mightiest array of princes and generals gathered at Zillenstein in a hundred years," said Ilse.
"So I hear," said John.
"And you may be called from the stable to serve in the castle.