. I sighed to be
out of slavery. I knew I was born to make a figure in the world. Had I
been one of the Neiss garrison, I would have cut my way to freedom
by the side of the gallant Frenchman; but here I had only artifice to
enable me to attain my end, and was not I justified in employing it? My
plan was this: I may make myself so necessary to M. de Potzdorff, that
he will obtain my freedom. Once free, with my fine person and good
family, I will do what ten thousand Irish gentlemen have done before,
and will marry a lady of fortune and condition. And the proof that I
was, if not disinterested, at least actuated by a noble ambition, is
this. There was a fat grocer's widow in Berlin with six hundred thalers
of rent, and a good business, who gave me to understand that she would
purchase my discharge if I would marry her; but I frankly told her that
I was not made to be a grocer, and thus absolutely flung away a chance
of freedom which she offered me.

And I was grateful to my employers; more grateful than they to me. The
Captain was in debt, and had dealings with the Jews, to whom he gave
notes of hand payable on his uncle's death. The old Herr von Potzdorff,
seeing the confidence his nephew had in me, offered to bribe me to know
what the young man's affairs really were. But what did I do? I informed
Monsieur George von Potzdorff of the fact; and we made out, in concert,
a list of little debts, so moderate, that they actually appeased the old
uncle instead of irritating, and he paid them, being glad to get off so
cheap.

And a pretty return I got for this fidelity. One morning, the old
gentleman being closeted with his nephew (he used to come to get any
news stirring as to what the young officers of the regiment were doing:
whether this or that gambled; who intrigued, and with whom; who was at
the ridotto on such a night; who was in debt, and what not; for the King
liked to know the business of every officer in his army), I was
sent with a letter to the Marquis d'Argens (that afterwards married
Mademoiselle Cochois the actress), and, meeting the Marquis at a few
paces off in the street, gave my message, and returned to the Captain's
lodging. He and his worthy uncle were making my unworthy self the
subject of conversation.

'He is noble,' said the Captain.

'Bah!' replied the uncle (whom I could have throttled for his
insolence). 'All the beggarly Irish who ever enlisted tell the same
story.'

'He was kidnapped by Ga