towards him languidly, and Brettschneider
asked coolly: "How do you mean, my dear fellow?"

"Well, you must know yourself!" pursued Reimers. "The man had just done
a good piece of work, he came running to you and expected a word of
recognition,--he deserved it, Brettschneider,--and you let him be taken
off like that! I don't think that's the way to make men love their
work."

"One must preserve discipline, and prevent these rascals from getting
thoroughly demoralised."

Reimers shrugged his shoulders. "Vogt was the best soldier in the whole
battery," he declared.

"Then the battery is in a bad way!" retorted Brettschneider
impatiently. "The man commits an undeniable piece of disobedience
before your eyes and you defend him? I am much obliged!" Brettschneider
put on his haughtiest expression, smiled with the utmost politeness,
and said amiably: "You must confess, my dear Reimers, that I am
entitled to my own opinion about the matter."

In Room IX. that evening the conversation was of a heated description.
Truchsess swore that he would not put up with that low fellow, that
Brettschneider. All of them were furious with the stuck-up young man;
and though they had hitherto gone through their duty without much fuss
or grumbling, they were now filled with a thorough repugnance for the
soldier's uniform and a perfect hatred for military life in which one
had to knuckle under to idiots like that. You half killed yourself and
what did you get by it? More kicks than halfpence, or perhaps you even
get clapped into prison!

"Keep your hair on, brewer!" said Count Plettau to Truchsess; and
putting on a superior tone: "We don't understand all this, you see!
this is the higher kind of patriotism! Lieutenant Brettschneider ought
to have a medal, instead of being blamed by such as you!"

He also was beside himself with rage over the exasperating piece of
folly he had witnessed. Hang it all! if he had not been so seriously
concerned to get to the end of his long years of service he would
certainly have put a spoke in the wheel of this young gentleman, the
senior-lieutenant. But no; that would be too foolish. Only a few days
more and he would be free at last; he could not play tricks with his
chances.

Suddenly he laughed aloud.

"You keep your mouths shut, boys!" he said, "otherwise you may get into
trouble yourselves. But don't worry! When I have got over the next few
days I'll give the senior-lieutenant the lesson he wants