ter she had become Frau Roth.

Roth himself, probably under the influence of his partner's urgings,
had frequently and with due emphasis spoken to that year's crop of
"one year's men" about the great musical talents of his wife, now,
alas! lying fallow for want of a piano of her own, and he had coupled
these remarks with plaints that the smallness of his resources
prevented the purchase of such an instrument. These remarks, coming
from one who had it virtually in his power to obtain for each one of
the "one year's men" promotion after the fall manoeuvres, had at last
borne fruit. One day the aforesaid stained oak piano had been unloaded
at Roth's door, accompanied by a round-robin from the volunteers
themselves, in which they waxed duly enthusiastic over his wife's
imaginary musical proficiency. Of course, the supposed gift had been
accepted, and of course every one of the supposed donors was advanced
in rank the following autumn, due to Roth's brilliant testimonials of
their prowess and exceptional fitness for a higher grade.

Roth never saw these "one year's men" again, but about a week after
their departure from the regiment a cart stopped before his door, and
the driver said he had come to take the piano back to the factory, the
term of pre-paid hire having expired. Decidedly a dirty trick on the
part of these young fellows, all the more so as Frau Roth had by this
time bragged so much about her piano to every one of her female
friends and neighbors, to whom she had represented it as a belated
wedding gift from a far-away uncle! The couple agreed it would never
do to return the instrument to the makers, and thus it was that the
Roths were still paying for this piano in monthly instalments, one
"gold fox"[10] each time, a number of years afterwards, with quite a
long time yet to run. No reasonable person will blame Vice-Sergeant-Major
Roth for the aforementioned tears of rage.

[10] "Gold fox," a slang term for the German twenty-mark gold
pieces.--TR.

Hanging above the piano, one could admire a huge steel engraving of
Vernet's "Funeral Banquet," also in an expensive frame (the gift of a
parting young soldier, son of a wealthy farmer); while antlers,
Japanese fans, a peacock's tail, etc., helped to produce a somewhat
incongruous _ensemble_. There was a pretty mahogany stand, on the
various shelves of which stood a large china punch-bowl, six green
Rhine-wine glasses (both gifts from other "grateful" recru