grow to a
certain size, when he would, by a dexterous motion born of long
practice, propel it from its resting-place over at his _vis-a-vis_,
either at the latter's feet or in his face, as the case might be. It
largely depended on the size of the tear and the rank of his
_vis-a-vis_.

The lady who accompanied him and who had the face and manners of a
governess was his better half. She had squeezed herself on this
occasion into a dowdy dress of pearl-gray silk, with a purple collar
of velvet.

Almost simultaneously the remainder of the invited personages filed
in. There was First Lieutenant Borgert. His shifting eyes seldom
looked squarely at any one whom he deigned to address. He was fleshy,
but his movements were nevertheless elastic and suave. Behind him
stood First Lieutenant Leimann, under-sized and prematurely bent, with
a neck several sizes too short for him and a suspicion of deformity
between the shoulders. A pear-shaped head protruded from between them,
fitfully lit up by a pair of pig's eyes, which either restlessly shot
glances or else were so completely buried under their lids as to
become invisible. A monocle hung down his bosom from a broad ribbon,
but he never used it, for fear of becoming ridiculous.

These two gentlemen dwelt together in the same house, each occupying a
floor, and were inseparables. Though perennially short of cash, they
saw no reason to deny themselves the luxuries of this mundane sphere.
On the contrary, they lived like heirs to great fortunes.

"Pardon me, my gracious lady,"[3] remarked Leimann to the hostess,
"but my wife could not come immediately, having her old
complaint--nervous headache, you know!" In saying this he made a face
as though he didn't himself believe what he was saying. "But she will
doubtless come a bit later."

[3] "My gracious lady"--"Gnaedige Frau"--a term of politeness
used to-day indiscriminately in Germany toward married
women.--TR.

"Sorry to hear it," Frau Clara sweetly answered, "but I hope she will
soon feel well enough to appear."

After little Lieutenant Bleibtreu, a special friend of the house and
the only subaltern in Captain Koenig's squadron, had in his turn
saluted everybody, the servant announced that the meal was served. The
diners, in couples, ranged strictly according to rank, passed in. The
dining-room looked cheerful, and the table had been arranged with Frau
Clara's customary taste.

Everybody having been served, co