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 http://www.archive.org/details/cu31 924031 274024 
 
CONFISCftTED IN GEBMllNY 
 
 FIRST 
 CLASS 
 
 MEN 
 
 A J^o^oel oj- German Ariny t-ife 
 
 'By 
 
 FREIHERR VON SCHLICHT 
 
 Wolf Count o/ "BaudllJtin 
 
 \/n«ibrid^ed American Bdrtion 
 
FIRST-CLASS MEN 
 
 A NOVEL OF GERMAN ARMY LIFE 
 
 BY 
 
 FREIHERR VON SCHLICHT 
 
 (wolf gkaf von baudissin) 
 GONFISGATED IJSf GERMANY 
 
 UNABRIDGED AMERICAN EDITION 
 
 NEW yokk: 
 M. SCHNIX^ER PUBLISHING CO. 
 
 1904 
 
Copyright^ 1904, by 
 M. SCHNITZER PUBLISHING COMPANY 
 
 Press of J. J. Ijttle & Co. 
 Aster Place, New York 
 
PREFACE 
 
 Coimt Baudissin's book,/ now placed before the 
 English-speaking public, is fti^senBation of Germany. 
 It has created heated debajfes in/ the Reichstag. It 
 has been suppressed by the police, and its author is 
 being criminally prosecuted — ^for what? For telling 
 the plain truth about the German army, its officers, 
 the medieval and feudal ideas still prevailing among 
 them, the remarkable code of honor and morals which 
 governs these "Pirst-Class Men." 
 
 Startling as Count Baudis^n's reveilations are, 
 they appear to be based on facts, and supported by 
 impartial witnesses. The New York Evening Post, 
 certainly not a paper seeking cheap sensations, in an 
 article- on this subject, says, in part : 
 
 " Something new in the way of literature is now 
 on the top wave of popularity in Europe and has be- 
 gun an invasion of the United States — ^the German 
 military romance. Writers of great renown — Count 
 de Baudissin, for instance — tell of the proudest army 
 of Europe stories that read like a new chapter of the 
 history' of Emperor Nero. Are these stories really 
 true ? 
 
 "Militarism develops and fosters the instinct of 
 brutality, and in the lands where it thrives we find 
 it insolent, haughty, and contemptuous of the rights 
 
4 PREFACE 
 
 of the weak. And sucli a land is Germany. Let us 
 look at the effect of militarism, dominant and ram- 
 pant, upon the character of her officers. 
 
 " First of aU, it must be understood that there are 
 different classes of Grerman officers. The officers 
 themselves have distinctive characters; not in their 
 grades, no ! but in their noble birth and the classifica- 
 tion of their regiments, ^irst in rank is the nobility, 
 then the wealthy civilf^n, then the poor civilian. 
 After this classification comes the regulation con- 
 cerning the rank and precedence of the regiments — 
 cavalry, foot, artiUery, train. As though this were 
 not enough, the highest class of all these regiments 
 is the Imperial Guard. All this is hard to under- 
 stand in a republican government. 
 
 " Such is the foolish worship of caste in Germany 
 that when a family of what may be called the citizen 
 class becomes able to boast that one of its members 
 is an officer in the army, it is thereby exalted above 
 all others. And this endeavor after distinction is the 
 prolific breeder of jealousies and heart burnings, 
 and has all but beggared thousands of worthy fami- 
 lies which might otherwise have lived in peace and 
 contentment. 
 
 " A young man of, say, eighteen years, becomes a 
 lieutenant. Prom this time on he is an officer of the 
 army — a commander over his illiterate brother. Now 
 he possesses might ; now he has a great responsibility. 
 His military education shows him the world in two 
 classes only — one that commands and one that obeys. 
 He sees that thousands of people look upon him in 
 
PREFACE 5 
 
 awe, and his character absorbs the influence of such 
 adulation. He sees that his rank gives him the 
 opportunity to do a great deal more than the common 
 people, and that his uniform covers him with a halo. 
 He makes his own laws ; and where a citizen would be 
 punished by imprisonment for certain misdeeds he 
 might commit, the honor of the army will protect the 
 oflScer from such a fate if it is possible to do so. If 
 impossible, then he has two courses open to him, 
 either blow out his brains or cross the great body of 
 water separating this country from the Fatherland. 
 
 " What crimes can bring an oflScer into such trou- 
 ble? In the regiment it is the first rule for every 
 oflScer to be as lavish and ostentatious in his expendi- 
 ture of money as possible, even if at home the mem- 
 bers of the officer's family are denying themselves 
 comforts and even necessities in order that he may 
 maintain his position in the atmosphere of luxury 
 and false pride made necessary when he donned the 
 uniform of his Emperor. True, the State forbids the 
 officer to make debts, but it is impossible for the 
 State to enforce this rule. 
 
 " Life in the German army to-day is one of luxury. 
 The simpleness and frugality of the Prussian officer 
 of the time of Frederick the Great is a thing of the 
 past. 
 
 " I am certain that eighty per cent, of the German 
 officers have not sufficient money to live in the way 
 that their positions demand. The Emperor believes 
 he has a divine right to rule; so do the officers in the 
 army. The Emperor says of his army, ' It is first in 
 
6 PREFACE 
 
 Germany'; so do the officers in the army. The 
 Emperor gives honor to the citizen; ah, but that's 
 where the officers in the army draw the line ! Honor 
 the citizen? In their arrogant self -consequence 
 the officers in the army have framed this rule : ' If a 
 citizen offends you, take your sword and kill him on 
 the spot ! ' 
 
 " AU that has been said about the officers in general 
 holds good to a greater degree with the officers of the 
 Guard ; for the arrogance and insolence of the former 
 class is, to some extent, but the reflection of the arro- 
 gance and insolence in the latter. It is the ability 
 to write the little word ' von ' before his name that 
 gives the possessor the right to become an officer 
 of the Guard. It is this little word that entitles 
 him to be considered an aristocrat and enables him 
 to act like an autocrat. It is this little word that 
 acts as a Chinese wall between him and his brother 
 officer. * 
 
 "All Guard regiments are stationed in or near 
 Berlin. The Prussian who enters a Guard regiment 
 as a common soldier is subject to influences from 
 capital life that are essentially degrading. His 
 commanders being officers with the little word ' von ' 
 before their names, regard him with no more con- 
 sideration than if he were a beast. In one hour he 
 will hear from the mouths of his superiors more 
 curses than he would hear in a lifetime in his own 
 country. Far away from his friends and relatives, 
 and forced daily to submit to treatment such as no 
 self-respecting man would stand for one moment. 
 
PREFACE 7 
 
 his character steadily deteriorates, and from long 
 being regarded as a beast he at last comes to act like 
 a beast. 
 
 " The chasm that separates the common soldier 
 from the officer is so great that it could not possibly 
 be greater between human beings. It is these officers 
 ■who are to-day the heroes of the military romances 
 that have created such a sensation in Europe. Their 
 rule is that of the feudal sword-law aristocracy of 
 the Middle Ages, with all its shocking brutality. 
 
 " If an officer of the Imperial Guard looks with 
 contempt upon a brother officer of the line because 
 his family is of the citizen class, what sort of treat- 
 ment from such hands can the common soldier ex- 
 pect? The poor fellow's sole duty is: 'Obey like 
 the miserable cur that you are ! ' And it is because 
 of this treatment that German authors have brought 
 it to the attention of the world. Are they true? 
 Horribile dictum! They are true." — The Publisher. 
 
FIRST-CLASS MEK 
 
 The" "Yellow Butterflies"— the foot regiment 
 Pranz Ferdinand Leopold of the Guard bears that 
 nickname on account of their yellow shoulder-straps 
 — celebrated the anniversary of the event when on 
 this day, more than thirty years before, they lost in 
 the battle of Gravelotte one-third of their men and 
 considerably over one-half of their oflBcers. The 
 memory of the regiment's heroic deeds must never 
 die; it must be kept alive among the younger genera- 
 tion. Hence the celebration of the battle's anniver- 
 sary imder the motto : " In memory of the dead, for 
 the emulation of the living." For that which they 
 had done the dead received each year a wonderful 
 wreath wi'th a giant bow in the regimental colors; 
 the living, who had done nothing, received a 
 costly dinner with plenty of champagne. And when 
 enthusiasm ran high under the combined stimulant 
 of the colonel's official speech and the effect of the 
 wine, they always vowed anew that they would know 
 how to die like their comrades if ever they should 
 be called again to fierce battles. Those vows were a 
 very serious matter with them. 
 
10 FIRST-CLASS MEN 
 
 To-day the celebration was particularly dignified 
 and brilliant because of the house-warming of the 
 new regimental home devoted exclusively to the offi- 
 cers' casino. Only this very noon, when the colonel 
 was preparing his speech, it had occurred to him that 
 the house-warming, which was really a joyous event, 
 was hardly in accord with the anniversary in honor 
 of the dead. He could not well say: "In honor of 
 the dead, we open to-day our new casino, of which I 
 hope that it will pay well financially." That 
 wouldn't do. Then the colonel hit upon an appro- 
 priate connection. He would simply say : " ,We prom- 
 ise to the dead to foster in these new rooms first of 
 all that spirit of comradeship and knightly principles 
 which animated them and spurred them on to heroic 
 deeds." That would make the proper impression. 
 So prepared, he went in high spirits to the regimental 
 home. Life and bustle filled the house which had 
 been formally handed over in the morning. Nearly 
 all the former comrades of the regiment had put in 
 appearance, delegations from other military bodies 
 were present, and nobody came empty-handed. A 
 veritable rain of silver articles had been showered 
 upon the Yellow Butterflies. In the reception rooms 
 a large crowd surged back and forth, exchanging 
 friendly greetings and admiring the presents while 
 awaiting the appearance of the high dignitaries. 
 
 They were to sit down to the feast at seven o'clock. 
 Promptly upon the stroke of the hour entered the 
 representative of His Majesty. Originally, the King 
 
FIEST-CLA88 MEN 11 
 
 had promised the regiment the honor of a personal 
 visit, but was prevented at the last moment from 
 coming. 
 
 The music began to play, and the long procession 
 moved into the dining-room. A cry of surprise rose 
 to every lip upon entering the marvellous room as 
 the eyes fell upon the beautifully adorned table. 
 
 The Yellow Butterflies, each with a guest, seemed 
 to grow and expand, as if to say : " Oh, yes ; that's 
 us, that's our home. Long enough did we endure a 
 place not at all suitable to our station. But now? 
 Where is the regiment that can boast of such a 
 home?" 
 
 They knew that their old casino had been a good 
 deal of a social drawback. An officer of the Horse 
 Guards had even vouchsafed the opinion that no 
 decent man could feel at home there. They had long 
 been the last, now they were the first. The Yellow 
 Butterflies beamed, and every word of recognition, 
 admiration, or quiet envy uttered by any of the 
 guests sounded in their ears like heavenly music. 
 Every one of them felt as if through him the regi- 
 ment had at last come to own this magniflcent home. 
 Each had contributed his own share, in a way. If 
 every one had not cherished and maintained the tra- 
 ditional spirit and reputation of the corps of officers, 
 as of old, the "Alten Herren" and friends of the 
 regiment would never have raised the large sum of 
 money expended in the building ajid furnishing. 
 Each of the officers had always been conscious of his 
 position and his moral obligations as bearer of an old 
 
13 FIBST- CLASS MEN 
 
 and noble name. They gloried in being one of the 
 proudest and most exclusive regiments in tbe whole 
 army. 
 
 The Yellow Butterflies gazed with pride upon their 
 guests — distinguished names all. 
 
 A lieutenant of the Uhlans, the Baron Gersbach, 
 who was universally known as a great gambler, put 
 his monocle in position and scrutinized the assembly 
 seated around the table. Then he turned to his 
 neighbor : " Eeally a company of quality, not a single 
 ' Buergerlicher ' at the whole table." 
 
 " Oh, yes — one." 
 
 The Uhlan pressed the monocle deeper into his 
 eye to find the man. 
 
 " Who is it? " he asked at last. 
 
 " The architect who built the house for us." 
 
 "Oh, well, he — anyway, he doesn't count. But 
 how did you come to invite him ? " 
 
 "We considered the matter long, but we couldn't 
 very well do otherwise. The fellow has served with 
 us formerly as a one-year volunteer, and out of at- 
 tachment and love for the regiment he drew the plans 
 for us free of charge and rendered all his services 
 without pay. We had to give him some kind of recog- 
 nition." 
 
 The Uhlan nodded assent: "I understand. Such 
 an invitation is not only the simplest, but the most 
 brilliant way of thanking him. Until the end of 
 his days the man will cherish the memory of this 
 evening. Besides, to have eaten with us will be a 
 brilliant recommendation for him. For his station 
 
FIRST-CLASS MEN 13 
 
 he looks remarkably decent. His hands are even 
 manicured. What's his name?" 
 
 "I believe Wipper, Lipper, Eipper, or something 
 like that." 
 
 " Oh, well, that's all the same. By the way," the 
 Uhlan inquired, " have you heard of the funny affair 
 that happened, according to rumor, at Dingsda, dur- 
 ing the love feast of a regiment of the line? One 
 of those churls — pardon me, but in a case like that I 
 don't like to use the word comrade — one of those 
 churls got drunk, and in his beastly condition — ^you 
 can't call it otherwise — he boxed an ensign's ear in 
 the casino because the young man didn't jump quick 
 enough when the besotted beast drank to him." 
 
 "Incredible!" 
 
 "And yet true." 
 
 " What was the upshot ? " 
 
 Baron Gersbach shrugged his shoulders: "What 
 can there be? They can't shoot each other, for it 
 will never do for an ensign to challenge his superior 
 to fight a duel." 
 
 " jSTo, that'll never do," assented the other. 
 
 " There remain two ways ; either the lieutenant, if 
 he ever gets sober again, apologizes to the ensign in 
 the presence of all the assembled officers and of all 
 those who witnessed the insult. That would settle 
 the matter. Or else the lieutenant is kicked out, in 
 which ease the ensign must decide whether he can 
 continue to live with the blow upon his cheek. It 
 would, of course, be all over with his career. In our 
 
14 FIRST-CLASS MEN 
 
 regiment, at least, no ensign who had to pocket a box 
 on the ear could ever become an officer." 
 
 They were silent for a moment, because the orderly 
 was just passing, refilling the glasses. Both men 
 drank to each other. Then the TJhlan continued: 
 " One might be sorry for the poor ensign ; he is said 
 to have behaved blamelessly during the whole affair. 
 It is far meaner to assault an ensign than a comrade. 
 Eeally, the worst of the matter lies deeper. Why 
 are people not more cautious in the admission of 
 young aspirants to the position of ofScers? To-day 
 a fellow may become a lieutenant if he has the 
 necessary allowance and belongs to a family whose 
 members have not been in dishonorable conflict witli 
 the police." 
 
 The other assented : " Alas, alas, it's bad enough 
 that the increase of the army makes it necessary to 
 admit ' Buergerlicher ' to officer's rank." 
 
 The TJhlan emptied his glass, and said : " You are 
 right, though it cannot be denied that there are some 
 nice ' Buergerlicher.' I must confess. I have known a 
 few — in our own regiment; they would be unthink- 
 able, of course — but one may meet them accidentally 
 on the train." 
 
 The Yellow Butterfly looked up in astonishment: 
 " Do you travel in a second-class carriage, then ? " 
 
 "Who, I? First the Uhlan looked astonished, 
 then he laughed aloud : " I second-class ? A real fine 
 joke! Will you permit to repeat it elsewhere? I, 
 second-class! If I write that to papa it will amuse 
 him royally." 
 
FIRST-CLASS MEN 15 
 
 It took the Uhlan a long time to compose himself 
 before he continued: "If I mentioned a while ago 
 meeting on the train, I meant it, of course, as a fig- 
 ure of speech. I thought of a fleeting passing ac- 
 quaintance. Then, as I said, such people are some- 
 times very nice, and I enjoy genuine pleasure in 
 conversation with a provincial comrade coming from 
 altogether different surroundings. I am highly 
 amused when they tell me how they get along with 
 the monthly extra allowance of fifty or sixty marks. 
 Fifty or sixty marks ! I pay that to my hair-dresser." 
 And quite suddenly, without apparent connection, he 
 asked : " Pray, tell me, because we argued the point 
 yesterday at the casino, how long ago did you get rid 
 of the last ' Buerger licher ' from this regiment ? " 
 
 "May 15th it will be four years." The Uhlan 
 looked up, somewhat astonished. "You know even 
 the date?" 
 
 " Oh, one does not forget such a joyful day." 
 
 "You are right there. And among your ensigns 
 you have no ' Buerger lieher' either?" 
 
 " Not a single one. The colonel has declared cate- 
 gorically that he would under no circumstances ac- 
 cept a ' Buergerlicher.' 
 
 "Very sensible of the man. In the first place, 
 such a one wouldn't fit in here at all. He would 
 embarrass you all around and feel very uncomfort- 
 able himiself. The only proper thing is to stay 
 among your own class. Let people talk of caste, 
 spirit and pride of nobility who know absolutely 
 
16 FIRST-CLASS MEN 
 
 nothing about it. Let them talk to their hearts' 
 content, what do you care ? " 
 
 " What do we care ? " And after a little pause the 
 Yellow Butterfly continued : " You know, of late I 
 have been thinking about caste spirit and pride of 
 nobility. If, at a love feast in the' Guard regiments, 
 we empty our glasses to the toast that the spirit of 
 the officers' corps may remain unchanged, I think 
 it means not only that we should cherish love and 
 fidelity for our ruling house, but also that we, with 
 our views, should always remain the first-class men 
 we are. We, the bearers of names of ancient nobility, 
 the members of the most distinguished regiments of 
 the Guard, should always be conscious of our ex- 
 clusive station, stand together shoulder to shoulder, 
 and stoutly maintain the division wall separating us 
 from the ' Buergerlichen.' Let us drink to the senti- 
 ment that we, the Guard regiments, remain what we 
 are, the bearers of the most distinguished names, 
 first-class men ! " 
 
 To the TJhlan the talk of his. table companion 
 seemed much too tedious. He had scarcely listened to 
 what the other said. Yet he now assented : " Let us 
 drink." Just as he was about to raise his glass a 
 stir swept through the gathering. The colonel had 
 risen to call for the first "Hoch" for the supreme 
 war lord. This first address was followed by a second 
 one from the attending representative of His Ma- 
 jesty, the King. 
 
 The latter rose after a brief pause to give thanks 
 for the homage just rendered, and then went on: 
 
FIRST-CLASS MEN 17 
 
 " His Majesty has commissioned me to express to you 
 his lively regret not to be able to attend personally 
 on this the regiment's day of honor. His Majesty 
 has deigned to command me to convey his royal 
 greetings to the regiment which has ever' distin- 
 guished itself in war and peace, and to assure the 
 regiment of his royal grace and good-will. His 
 Majesty feels assured of being able to count upon the 
 regiment in the future, as in the past, and knows 
 every one of you will be ready at any time joyfully 
 to give his life for the Fatherland and for the ruling 
 house. That is warranted by the spirit which has 
 ever distinguished the regiment, the spirit which is 
 to be particularly fostered in these rooms, devoted 
 first of all to regimental comradeship." 
 
 The grand gentleman paused for an instant. An 
 assenting murmur swept through the ranks of the 
 officers and guests who had risen to listen to the 
 address. 
 
 " Now follows the ' Hoch ' to the regiment," they 
 thought, while looking whether their glasses were 
 filled. For to your own regiment, to your own self, 
 belongs a full glass. 
 
 But the expected finish of the address did not fol- ^ 
 low immediately. The grand gentleman was visibly 
 embarrassed. It was obvious to everybody that he 
 wanted to say something more, hut could not find the 
 right form. At last he composed himself and went 
 on : " Gentlemen, His Majesty has deigned to com- 
 mission me to inform the regiment that His Majesty 
 has this day transferred to the regiment Lieutenant 
 
18 FIRST-CLASS MEN 
 
 Winkler, son of the privy commercial Councillor 
 Winkler, heretofore serving as lieutenant in the foot 
 regiment 250. And now, gentlemen," continued the 
 prince, visibly relieved, and raising his voice, " raise 
 your glasses with me to the welfare of this fine regi- 
 m)en% whose corps of officers comprises the best 
 names of the nation, whose non-commissioned officers 
 and men are shining models of faithful performance 
 of duty — the regiment. Hurrah ! Hurrah ! Hurrah ! " 
 
 They felt as if their throats were suddenly choked 
 by an iron grip. Never had a " Hoch " to the regi- 
 ment sounded so dismally, and it was fortunate that 
 the flare of the trumpets filled the banquet hall. 
 
 The " Hoch " given. His Highness sat down. But 
 the others still remained standing. They stared at 
 each other as if they had not heard aright, as if each 
 tried to read in the face of his neighbor whether 
 that which they had just heard was really the truth. 
 
 " We have become ' buergerlich ' ! " 
 
 Kobody knew who spoke the word first, but all at 
 onCe it passed from mouth to mouth: "We have 
 become 'buergerlich'." 
 
 They felt as if a jet of ice-cold water had struck 
 'their faces. When at last they again seated them- 
 selves at the table and the orchestra struck up a 
 merry medley, when the champagne bubbled in the 
 glasses they could not comprehend the incredible, 
 could not conceive it'; they again had a 'Buerger- 
 Heher" in the regiment. 
 
 The high spirits of the diners had vanished, and 
 the Yellow Butterflies felt as if suddenly a different 
 
FIRST-CLASS MEN 19 
 
 sentiment penetrated their rooms. The glamor of the 
 festival was dulled. It seemed to all of them as if 
 the silver shone with less brightness, as if the crystal 
 had less polish, the hall less refinement. 
 
 There was a painful hush around the table. The 
 Yellow Butterflies dared not turn to their guests. 
 They knew there would be a storm of questions about 
 this Winkler, who and what he was, where he came 
 from, and why it was that His Majesty took him 
 from his frontier garrison and transferred him to 
 this proud and distinguished regiment. There must 
 be something back of it. They dared not look up. 
 They knew it was written in the faces of their 
 guests: "You no longer are what you were. You 
 can't help it, of course, to have become 'buerger- 
 lich', but there is the bare fact, with grave conse- 
 quences for your station in the future ? " 
 
 If they had only been apprised privately that they 
 would have a " Buergerlicher " lieutenant — ^but, no, 
 publicly, before the assembled company, they were 
 told of it. There was no denial possible and no ex- 
 cuse. It was a straight blow in the face, for the 
 " Alten Herren," too, who had partly come from afar 
 to attend the house-warming, and a new element 
 entered the house with them — a " Buergerlicher " ! 
 What has the regiment done to deserve the extinction 
 of the nimbus which had always distinguished its 
 body of officers ? Formerly, when a " Buergerlicher " 
 lieutenant had been among them for a time, they 
 suffered and chafed under it and considered it a 
 special royal grace that the King, at the persona] 
 
20 FIB8T-CLA88 MEN 
 
 request of the body of officers, retransferred the man 
 to the line. When they were once more among them- 
 selves, each swore to himself to live only for the 
 honor of the regiment, henceforward more than ever, 
 so that no " Buergerlicher " might again be set among 
 them. Now it had been done just the same. 
 
 The tn^Jan had long been looking at his neighbor 
 who was sitting in a brown study. He felt like say- 
 ing a sympathetic word. All his feelings he con- 
 densed into the remark : " It's too bad, it was so nice 
 among you." 
 
 The Yellow Butterfly winced. These words could 
 have only one meaning : " The start is made. The 
 one 'Buergerlicher' will be followed by others, and 
 even if he should remain the only one, it is no longer 
 with you as it was before." 
 
 The Uhlans were considered an immensely feudal 
 regiment, and the Yellow Butterflies had made the 
 greatest efforts to enter into a friendly and comrade- 
 like relation with them. At last they had succeeded. 
 The Uhlans attended to-day almost to a man. They 
 had presented a costly silver table ornament to the 
 " Closely allied regiment." Now when the friend- 
 ship had barely commenced, it threatened to go to 
 pieces again. 
 
 All breathed a sigh of relief when at last the com- 
 pany rose from the table. The Yellow Butterflies 
 felt a burning desire to make a clean breast of it 
 among themselves and to learn particulars about their 
 new comrade. Surely, somebody must know some- 
 thing about him. He must evidently have some kind 
 
FIRST-CLASS MEN 21 
 
 of a name as far as such a thing is possible for a 
 " Buergerlicher," or else His Majesty would not have 
 done so much for him. 
 
 Distinct and separate groups formed — ^the guests, 
 the "Alten Herren" and the regimental officers — 
 each group eagerly discussing the portentous event. 
 
 The Yellow Butterflies crowded around the aide- 
 de-camp, Count Wettborn; he was very pale and was 
 nervously stepping from one foot to the other, only 
 the tips of his faultlessly polished shoes tapping the 
 floor. Next to the commander the matter touched 
 him nearest. Was he not on many occasions the rep-r 
 resentative of the regiment and of its body of officers ? 
 And was he now and hereafter to represent Winkler, 
 too, he, a count ? He was a proud, distinguished 
 personality. On his breast shone an order of the 
 fourth class, his latest acquisition, earned as dance 
 leader at court. Por two years he had filled that 
 position. It had been a distinction not only for him, 
 but for the regiment, too. When he returned to 
 active service he was made aide-de-camp and every- 
 body felt that he deserved the position as the worth- 
 iest among them. 
 
 " But, Count, speak up, you must know something. 
 Who is this Winkler?" 
 
 Every eye was turned upon the Count in suspense. 
 Deathly stillness reigned, one hardly dared to breath. 
 
 " Gentlemen," the aide-de-camp finally said, " what 
 the colonel and I. know we have just learned from 
 His Eoyal Highness. Winkler's father is a factory 
 
23 FIBST-CLASS MEN 
 
 They felt as if a weight had dropped off their 
 hreasts. A factory owner! That wasn't so much 
 after all, and not to be compared with the social stand- 
 ing of the owner of a large estate or a court chamber- 
 lain. Still, Krupp was originally only a factory 
 owner, and yet the German Emperor called him his 
 friend in public, before all the world. But at once 
 theyi noticed that some thing was still weighing 
 heavily upon the Count's mind. There must be some- 
 thing objectionable about the factory owner. 
 
 " What does the man manufacture ? Guns or ma- 
 chines?" 
 
 " Neither — ^breeches buttons." 
 
 If lightning had struck among the Yellow Butter- 
 flies they couldn't have started back more aghast. 
 
 " For the Lord's sake ! " 
 
 Then they looked around whether any of the guests 
 or orderlies happened to be near. And again they 
 surrounded the aide-de-camp. 
 
 The long Bebitz composed himself first. He was 
 on very good terms with the aide-de-camp, almost his 
 friend, and he could afford to hazard the remark: 
 "Don't indulge in any funny business, Count, we 
 none of us feel like it just now. One doesn't say such 
 things for a joke. So, out with it, what does the 
 old man manufacture ? " 
 
 The Count looked calmly upon the speaker : " My 
 dear friend, I don't feel the least like joking. It is 
 as I told you, the man actually manufactures buttons, 
 in large quantities, of course. He owns three big 
 factories, and employs thousands of workers for 
 
FIRST-CLASS MEN 23 
 
 ■whom, it is alleged, he cares in a really splendid 
 manner. For many years he has served as a member 
 of the city council, and for three years he has been 
 a privy commercial councillor. Eecently he donated 
 to a charitable institution under the protectorate of 
 Her Majesty the Queen one hundred thousand marks, 
 and promised in addition an annual contribution of 
 twenty thousand marks for five years. He was 
 offered a high order, but declined. When he was 
 asked how he could be thanked he replied, he would 
 be glad to have his only son transferred from his 
 frontier garrison to the capital, so that he could see 
 him oftener. It wouldn't do to deny him his wish, 
 and so the son has come to us." 
 
 After a little pause of deep silence, the aide-de- 
 camp went on : " Transfer of Lieutenant Winkler to 
 our regiment has been made on the personal order of 
 His Majesty the King. It is not for us to criticize 
 His Majesty's acts, and I beg of you to remember this 
 and to abstain from giving utterance to any opinion." 
 
 That was clear and distinct. All could perceive 
 that the aide-de-camp spoke in the name and by the 
 order of the commander, and so one after the other 
 withdrew silently. 
 
 But that silence spoke louder than words. The 
 Yellow Butterflies glided about in depression. They 
 had not the courage to ask their guests to stay, though 
 they made ready to leave much earlier than usual. 
 Wasn't it all the same whether they lingered for 
 another hour or not? The good feeling was gone, 
 the feast spoiled for them. The rooms became more 
 
24 FIRST-CLASS MEN 
 
 and more deserted, and one guest after another de- 
 parted, leaving only the Yellow Butterflies behind. 
 When at last they were alone they asked themselves 
 again and again : " Whereby have we deserved this ? " 
 
 In a corner of the room little Willberg, the favorite 
 and spoiled fellow of them all, sat collapsed in a 
 chair. He was a young lieutenant, twenty-six years 
 of age, whose father before him had served with the 
 Yellow Butterflies and earned the Iron Cross of the 
 flrst class at Gravelotte. It may be that young Will- 
 berg had indulged rather freely in the champagne. 
 He had the howling blues, crying and sobbing like a 
 child. 
 
 "Willberg, what's the matter with you?" queried 
 his comrades, as they stepped up to him. 
 
 He raised his youthful face, now bathed in tears, 
 and sobbed, with heartrending voice : " Oh, my regi- 
 ment, my beautiful regiment." 
 
 They stood around him in silence. None found a 
 single word of consolation. They were all sorrow- 
 ful unto death. 
 
II. 
 
 " At twelve o'clock at noon I desire to see the offi- 
 cers in the court of the barracks." 
 
 This order of the colonel's had been communicated 
 to all in the regular way. Kow they stood expectant 
 in front of the barracks. To the question, "What 
 has the old man up his sleeve? Has somebody mis- 
 behaved ? " the answer was given : " Winkler arrived 
 this morning, and is to be presented to us." This 
 answer was followed by an "Ah!" — an exclamation 
 of the deepest regret and the greatest disappointment. 
 So Winkler was come after all! How many fervent 
 prayers had been addressed to heaven that he might 
 not come. In their heart of hearts they had still 
 nursed the hope that the transfer might be recon- 
 sidered. His Majesty, through an aide-de-camp, had 
 made inquiries as to how the corps of officers felt 
 about the newcomer. They had made a clean breast 
 of it, but instead of reconsidering the transfer, the 
 aide-de-camp showed up one day at the regimental 
 home and stated officially in a casual conversation 
 that His Majesty felt very ungracious over that which 
 he had heard regarding the position taken by the 
 officers towards Lieutenant Winkler. His Majesty 
 firmly expressed his expectation that the regiment 
 would receive their new comrade with open arms. 
 These words of the aide-de-camp did not fail to pro- 
 
26 FIB8T-CLA88 MEN 
 
 duee their effect. Of course the officers didn't sud- 
 denly change their views, but they took good care not 
 to express their thoughts further in his presence. 
 
 And now Winkler had arrived ! 
 
 "How does he look? What impression does he 
 make ? Has anybody talked with him ? " Thus the 
 questions followed one another — ^then the clock struck 
 twelve, and to the minute appeared the commander 
 with his aide-de-camp and with Lieutenant Winkler. 
 The lieutenant-colonel reported that the officers were 
 present, and the colonel at once began : " Gentlemen, 
 I have asked you to come here in order to present to 
 you your new comrade. Lieutenant Winkler." 
 
 Lieutenant Winkler advanced a step, raising his 
 hand saluting to his helmet. There he stood in 
 strictly official position. A man of medium size, of 
 supple yet vigorous build, he was of fine physique, 
 and the handsome uniform of the Yellow Butterflies 
 with its rich golden embroidery suited him admirably. 
 His face fresh and youthful — ^he was only twenty- 
 seven years of age — was adorned with a strong blonde 
 mustache, and his bright eyes betokened energy and 
 self-reliance. Many others would not have been able 
 to conceal a sort of unrest and embarrassment at this 
 moment ; but Winkler's face remained perfectly calm 
 and composed. The Butterflies scrutinized their new 
 comrade just as if scrutinizing a horse led out for 
 sale. They looked at his figure, at his legs, whether 
 he would or wouldn't march well in parade, whether 
 his exterior would to some extent answer the require- 
 ments of a member of this distinguished regiment. 
 
FIRST-0LA88 MEN 27 
 
 According to the way in which they were more or 
 less satisfied with the result of their physical investi- 
 gation, they raised their hands or one finger only 
 for a longer or shorter moment to their caps. 
 
 "Lieutenant Winkler," the colonel began, "you 
 enjoy the great distinction of having been transferred 
 by direct order of His Majesty the King to a regiment 
 which looks back upon a glorious past and whose 
 corps of ofiicers has always been distinguished by 
 purity of character, knightliness of sentiment, and a 
 high sense of honor inside as well as outside of the 
 service. You come to us from a strange garrison, 
 from strange surroundings. You have grown up in 
 circles whose views are not always the same as ours. 
 It will be your first task to become one of us in the 
 full sense of the word. Not the uniform alone makes 
 a member of the regiment, but the spirit which ani- 
 mates us. The way in which a corps of officers live 
 in a financial and material respect is not without 
 influence upon its spirit. You, Lieutenant, have an 
 allowance so large as to be out of all proportion to 
 the small sums at the disposal of most of my officers. 
 You, Lieutenant, grew up in circles where money 
 plays the main r61e; where, as it were, the honor of 
 the individual is measured according to the size of 
 his bank account. But we find our pride in remain- 
 ing what we are with or, rather, in spite of our lim- 
 ited means. In the course of time you will learn 
 how many of our comrades have to economize to make 
 both ends meet, how they have to deny themselves 
 many things in order to be able to appear worthily 
 
28 FIRST-CLASS MEN 
 
 before the world. I have heard with .pleasure that in 
 your small garrison you have been living so far in an 
 economical manner, in no wise makiitg a show of 
 your means. Therefore, now, after your transfer to 
 the capital, let me ask you, in all seriousness, yea, let 
 me admonish you, to resist the temptations that will 
 cross your way in every form possible. Eemain mod- 
 est in your mode of living, and don't give way to the 
 error so easily committed by youth, of making a show 
 of your money and of your wealth, and of posing 
 before your comrades with your means. If you take 
 heed of my warning, then I can assure you a relation 
 of comradeship and friendship will soon develop be- 
 tween you and the other gentlemen, to whom till 
 now you are but a stranger." And, turning to 
 the aide-de-camp, he went on : " Count, I ask you 
 to present Lieutenant Winkler to the individual 
 gentlemen." 
 
 It was done, strictly according to the rank in the 
 service, commencing with the lieutenant-colonel and 
 finishing with the youngest lieutenant. Only when 
 the names of the lieutenants were reached did Wink- 
 ler's body show some signs of life. During the 
 colonel's long address, and while his superiors were 
 named to him, he stood immovable, hand on helmet. 
 They all had to admit that he stood well, without the 
 least motion; that he had complete control over the 
 expression of his face. N"ot a muscle moved, nothing 
 betrayed his sentiments during the colonel's remarks. 
 But when the names of the lieutenants were spoken — 
 the first lieutenants he had greeted as superiors — ^his 
 
FIRST-CLASS MEN 29 
 
 position relaxed somewhat and he responded to the 
 bows of his comrades. His bow was good, they had 
 to admit that. At last he could drop his hand and 
 stand at ease. His arm was nearly benumbed, the 
 muscles of his legs quivered and pained — ^but no out- 
 ward sign betrayed it. 
 
 "Lieutenant Winkler will be transferred to the 
 second battalion, fifth company." 
 
 All eyes turned to the captain of the fifth, Freiherr 
 von Wamow. He was considered as the most distin- 
 guished officer in the regiment, his nobility was of, 
 the oldest, he could trace it back to Emperor Bar- 
 barossa. Under him a Wamow had distinguished 
 himself in war. He was married to a Countess Mar-, 
 burg, was very rich, and his house was considered as 
 one of the most aristocratic in the capital. When- 
 ever the regiment required a representative, whenever 
 a delegation was sent anywhere, Freiherr von Warnow 
 always was part of it. By birth and by his connec- 
 tion with the most distinguished families, he was 
 manifestly predestined to such a position. He was as: 
 distinguished in his official service as in his private 
 life. He brooked no ill-treatment or abuse of his 
 soldiers by his officers. The comrades would jokingly 
 say he tried to make a gentleman out of every muske- 
 teer. His first lieutenant, Baron von Felsen, stood' 
 by him in this task admirably. For two weeks past 
 he had only one officer, because his lieutenant had re- 
 cently broken his arm. Four weeks more might 
 elapse before he could return to active service. Yet 
 it had not occurred to the captain that he would get 
 
30 FIRST-GLASS MEN 
 
 another officer. And now they put that Winkler into 
 his company, his, Freiherr von Warnow's ! 
 
 He couldn't conceal his displeasure. His heavy 
 eyebrows contracted angrily, and he was about to 
 murmur something in rage when Winkler's eyes met 
 his. On hearing the name of his captain, Winkler 
 had looked around inquiringly. Who of the many to 
 whom he had been presented was Freiherr von War- 
 now ? When he saw this disappointed and indignant 
 face he knew at once. He looked at him firmly and 
 steadily, as if to ask : " What have I done to you ? " 
 Possibly he grew a little paler, but his voice had a 
 steady sound as he approached his superior and re- 
 ported to him for service. 
 
 Freiherr von Warnow, thanking, laid a finger on 
 his cap, and said : " It would have been more correct 
 if you had first reported to your major." 
 
 Winkler's face flushed, then he made up for the 
 omission. Next he approached Freiherr von Mase- 
 mann, his first lieutenant, as if to present himself to 
 him again as a comrade of lie company. The Frei- 
 herr took this amiability as something quite self- 
 evident, and only replied by a curt " thank you." 
 
 The colonel conversed with the officers of the staff, 
 the other officers talked in groups among themselves. 
 Winkler stood alone, nobody paid any attention to 
 him, and he felt relieved when the colonel finally dis- 
 missed them. He turned to go, when his captain, 
 engaged in conversation with his first Lieutenant, 
 called to him : " Pray one moment. Lieutenant," then 
 after a brief pause continued : " I don't know, Lieu- 
 
FIRST-CLASS MEN 31 
 
 tenant, whether you are aware of the fact, and I want 
 to emphasize it right~now, that a distinguished and de- 
 cent tone pervades my company. I must ask you to 
 omit all cursing and scolding ; my men are used to be 
 treated as decent people. That you came to my com- 
 pany is a distinction of which I hope you will prove 
 yourself worthy." Turning to his first lieutenant, he 
 went on : " And you, my dear baron, in case lieutenant 
 Winkler should not find it easy to strike the right tone 
 at the beginning, will have the goodness to help him." 
 The first lieutenant raised his hand to his cap, 
 and the captain again turned to Winkler : " To- 
 morrow morning we shall meet in service. Pray give 
 your address to the sergeant, so that he may know 
 where orders reach you." 
 
 " Very well. Captain." 
 
 "For the present I have nothing more for you — 
 thank you, gentlemen." 
 
 The two lieutenants turned to go and walked in 
 silence together across the great barracks court. Only 
 after they had passed the gate the baron said : " We 
 have dinner at six o'clock, won't you come now for 
 breakfast to the regimental home ?" 
 
 But Winkler declined: "I have to report yet to 
 my higher superiors and have much to attend to 
 otherwise." 
 
 The other did not insist any further, and so they 
 parted. 
 
 Winkler called a cab. It was nearly three o'clock 
 when he reached the hotel where he had put up for 
 the time. 
 
33 FIRST-CLASS MEN 
 
 "Is there any mail for me?" lie inquired. For 
 three days he had been without news from home. 
 He had wired to his parents that he would arrive 
 at the capital to-day, and he hoped now to find word 
 from them. 
 
 The porter had looked over the mail. " There is 
 nothing for you, lieutenant." 
 
 Winkler could hardly conceal his disappointment. 
 On this day, when he felt so lonely and disappointed, 
 a greeting from his parents would have seemed par- 
 ticularly cheering. He was prepared for a reception 
 not altogether cordial; but that he would be received 
 so coldly and with so much repugnance was a dis- 
 agreeable surprise to him. It was more than he had 
 expected. 
 
 He mounted the stairs. To his surprise the door 
 to his room was not locked. As he opened it and en- 
 tered he was received by loud and cheerful laughter: 
 " Ha, ha, George, my boy, I call that a surprise, eh ! 
 I told the porter I'd wring his neck if he betrayed my 
 arrival to you. For two hours I have been sitting 
 here waiting for you. Well, thank the Lord, here 
 you are at last. How fine you look, my boy. Mother 
 would be beside herself with pride if she could see 
 you. Now the first thing you must get yourself 
 photographed." The commercial councillor embraced 
 his son with heartiness and fatherly pride. At last 
 George extricated himself. " Father, this is truly a 
 surprise, how did you come here ? " 
 
 The old gentleman, a man of about sixty, medium- 
 sized, vigorous and well-knit, with a large red face. 
 
FIR8T-GLA8S MEN 33 
 
 great grey eyes, and heavy bushy brows, whose whole 
 aspect betokened iron will power, energy and great 
 iself-relianoe, looked at his son with a contented 
 smile. " Do you know your father so little that you 
 think I'd leave you alone here to-day ? I have got to 
 assist you in looking up rooms, but, first of all, I want 
 to know how you get along and to hear how the people 
 received you. Now, tell me." 
 
 George had discarded helmet and sash and had 
 changed his uniform coat for a comfortable house 
 jacket.' Then he took one of the cigars offered him 
 by his father and seated himself in a chair. 
 
 "My boy, do tell me. One can talk while one is 
 dressing. I know you say one thing at a time, but I 
 have always insisted one can do several things at one 
 and the same time. Do you believe that otherwise I 
 would have accomplished what I have ? I have taken 
 my dinner standing, eating with the left hand, while 
 taking notes with my right, and between whiles giv- 
 ing orders and directions to all sorts of people. Now, 
 then fire away, talk." The commercial councillor 
 looked expectantly upon his son, who remained silent. 
 At last the young man spoke : 
 
 " Father, it turned out as I wrote you when you 
 notified me that you had asked for my transfer to 
 the capital. It has all come to pass as I told you, and 
 even a great deal worse." 
 
 The old man straightened himself up and looked 
 •with astonished eyes at his son. "That means, 
 then " 
 
 " That means," the son continued, " they have re- 
 
34 FIRST-GLASS MEN 
 
 eeived me here at the regiment in a manner that not 
 only might have sent the blush of shame to my face, 
 but might have aroused me to anger and revolt. I 
 felt all that within me. But I controlled myself, 
 showing no outward sign, as I always do. They made 
 long speeches to me, they admonished me to do my 
 duty, and they rubbed it in again and again that it 
 was a great distinction to belong to the regiment." 
 
 "Yes, that's it," confirmed the father. "You 
 ought to have seen the eyes when I told my friends 
 and acquaintatices I had brought about your transfer 
 to the Yellow Butterflies. People wouldn't believe it 
 until I showed it to them in black and white. Yes, 
 yes, my boy, it was by no means easy for me, and the 
 pleasure isnt' cheap, either. Two hundred thousand 
 marks are no trifle. Well, I don''t grudge the money." 
 
 "But I do, father, for I not only believe, but I 
 know, that it is a poor investment. When you wrote 
 to me at the time that you had applied for my trans- 
 fer I begged of you immediately to do everything in 
 your power to cancel your request. You only laughed 
 at my scruples, and you wrote to me: 'The Yellow 
 Butterflies will appreciate what they have got in the 
 son of Privy Commercial Councillor Winkler, and if 
 they don't know they'll flnd out by and by.' " 
 
 " And they will, my son, they will." But George 
 shook his head : " They will not, father ; they will 
 not even take the trouble to know more about me; 
 they look upon me as an intruder, a stranger. Al- 
 ready I know they wait for the hour when they can 
 get rid of me with decency. They will watch me, and 
 
FIB8T-GLASS MEN 35 
 
 CTerything I do, they will weigh every word I say, 
 until at last they find some reason to tell me ; ' Dear 
 friend, you don't fit into a regiment so distinguished 
 as we are.' And one fine morning I'll find myself 
 again in a little garrison." 
 
 The old man exploded. " Oh, oh ! we are not there 
 yet. Before things get so far I shall have something 
 to say about it. I am in great favor with my king, 
 and at the proper hour I shall know how to open my 
 mouth to him about it." 
 
 George shrugged his shoulders : " Then it will be 
 too late. It won't do any good. After all, you 
 wouldn't want the corps of oflSeers to keep me against 
 their will. I am sufEering enough from the fact that 
 I came here altogether against their will. Do you 
 think I didn't feel it bitterly when not one of them 
 had a word of welcome for me, not one of. them 
 grasped my hand in friendly greeting ? " 
 
 The veins on the father's forehead showed his 
 anger. " Those stuck-up fellows, what do they 
 think? What is it they are stuck up for? Because 
 of the fact when they were born they accidentally got 
 into a cradle which steod in a nobleman's house? 
 Is it their merit that they have got a count or a baron 
 for a father ? It makes me laugh ! If that's all they 
 are stuck up for, then I am sorry for that crowd of 
 Junkers. To be born as the son of a nobleman is 
 no merit at all. It's a different thing to be like me, 
 the son of a petty official, and to work your way up 
 by your own industry and your own force, and to 
 occupy a position in the world such as I have achieved. 
 
36 FIBST-CLAS8 MEN 
 
 If anyone can't see that, then he simply won't see 
 it, or is unable to do so because of extraordinary stu- 
 pidity." 
 
 The commercial councillor had risen and walked 
 up and down the floor in excitement. George knew 
 his father. When he was in a mood like the present 
 one he had to work it out and cool down by degrees 
 before he was accessible to any outside argument. So 
 he let the old gentleman go on without interfering 
 until Winkler at last, with a vigorous curse, sat down 
 again in the chair. 
 
 " N'ow," said the old man, " I feel better. After 
 all, my boy, I believe you see a little too black. That 
 the people consider you an interloper one may under- 
 stand, and one can understand likewise why they 
 don't want to come to you right off with hands out- 
 jstretcheld. Those people don't know you. They 
 know no more about you than that you are the son 
 of your father, and since I did not come into the 
 world with a crown upon my head they are not satis- 
 fied so far, but want to know you first and to size you 
 up. When I think the matter over calmly, and I am 
 calm now, I have to own that I like the way in 
 which you were received. After all, lieutenants are 
 not little girls, swearing friendship for life and death 
 after an acquaintnace of five minutes. Why should 
 the Yellow Butterflies be in transports of delight 
 when they see you? Because you are a very fine- 
 looking fellow ? No, my son. Just wait, it will depend 
 on you to establish your position in the regiment, and 
 I am thoroughly satisfied you will do it." 
 
FIBST-0LAS8 MEN 37 
 
 "At least I will try, father; it shall not be my 
 fault if I fail." 
 
 " Why should you fail ? Don't begin all over again. 
 Hold your head high and look with courage into the 
 future. What one tries to accomplish seriously one 
 achieves in the end. That's all." 
 
 George assented. " Yes. Let us leave the subject. 
 Only the future can and will decide which of us two 
 is right. One thing I would like to know, because I 
 could get no answer to it in my letters. Is it not 
 true that the idea of having me transferred from the 
 line to the guard originated with mother ? " 
 
 The commercial councillor laughed with pleasure: 
 " Well, since you must know, you are right, my son. 
 You know your mother, she's a jewel, but she 
 wouldn't be a woman if the money, the title and the 
 position now at my command had not gone to her 
 head. We maintain a grand establishment, partly 
 for the sake of your sister Elsa. All the world 
 frequents our house. She didn't like to answer again 
 and again to all inquiries that you were in that mis- 
 erable place with a regiment of no particular conse- 
 quence. Of course, nobody said anything, but your 
 mother read in the faces of the people : ' That shows 
 there are still some doors money can't open.' Natu- 
 rally she was aggravated and her vanity was wounded. 
 She has only one son, and for him the best is just 
 good enough. So she kept on teasing me and teasing 
 me, until at last I did what she wanted." 
 
 " That's exactly the way I explained the thing to 
 myself," said George. " I see mother right before me, 
 
38 FIBST-CLA88 MEN 
 
 how she was talking to you, and I fancy I know every 
 word she was speaking. She certainly meant well, 
 and she must feel very happy now." 
 
 The commercial councillor laughed aloud : "Happy, 
 my boy, I tell you there are no words to describe her 
 happy condition." 
 
 George laughed, and they spoke of mother and 
 of his sister Elsa, to whom he was attached by a 
 boundless love. They spoke of the parental home and 
 of the factory, until the stroke of the clock reminded 
 George it was high time for him to go to dinner. 
 
 The commercial councillor looked vexed. "Don't 
 we dine together? I had thought we were going to 
 have a dinner in some fine restaurant to celebrate this 
 day in a way that might provoke the envy of the 
 immortal gods." 
 
 "To-day it is impossible, father; to-day, the very 
 first day, I must under no consideration be missed 
 at the regimental home. Possibly to-morrow I can 
 disengage myself." The old man murmured in vexa- 
 tion: 
 
 " To-morrow is not to-day. Well, perhaps there is 
 no other way out of it." And after a little he said: 
 " Can't I eat with you in the regimental home ? I 
 would like to make the acquaintance of your com- 
 rades in the regiment. In fact, I thought of paying 
 my visit to your direct superior, or, at least, to your 
 commander." 
 
 George was embarrassed. He was a very good son, 
 he was proud of his father, and loved him above 
 everything, and pre,cisely for that reason he wanted 
 
FIRST-CLASS MEN 39 
 
 to avoid the possibility of a slight to him at table. 
 Under no circumstances did he wish to give a chance 
 to his comrades to exchange remarks among them- 
 selves about his father because some trifling thing 
 did not please them. He was also afraid of his 
 father's passionate explosive temperament, which 
 he knew only too well. He was afraid the old man 
 might forget himself and might drop, in the heat of 
 argument, some critical remarks which in the end 
 could only hurt both of them. So he said, evasively : 
 "No, that won't do very well to-day, father; it's an 
 old custom in the army that the officer who eats for 
 the first time with his new comrades is invited by 
 them. As a guest, I can't well bring another guest 
 with me." 
 
 The old gentleman saw that point quicker even 
 than George expected : " Well, then, I'll drink a good 
 bottle of Ehine wine by myself. We'll see each other 
 again before going to bed, and you can tell me how it 
 came off." 
 
 When George came home at ten o'clock he didn't 
 have much to tell, at least not much that was pleas- 
 ant. It had been nice in a way, they had drunk his 
 health, but that was all. The rooms at the casino 
 were gorgeous, and he dwelt on the description of 
 the house until his father at last bade him good-night. 
 
 George went to his room, but he lay awake long, 
 thinking of the things he had not told his father. 
 The senior at the table had welcomed him with a 
 few words, but they sounded so cold George said to 
 himself, " The man only speaks because he has to. 
 
40 FIB8T-CLAS8 MEN 
 
 His heart knows nothing of what his lips utter. " A 
 *'Hoch" followed the address, they had touched 
 glasses with him, and so the matter was considered 
 disposed of. 
 
 "Oh, that I had been permitted to stay where I 
 was. How will it come out in the end ? " That ques- 
 tion kept him awake for a long time. But when at 
 last he fell asleep he saw in his dream the happy eyes 
 of his mother beaming in exultation over the distinc- 
 tion achieved by her son. 
 
III. 
 
 It was five weeks since the regiment returned from 
 the manoeuvres. The recruits had been received, and 
 the busy winter service begun. If anybody ever longed 
 impatiently for the arrival of winter, it was George. 
 Although he had now belonged for half a year to 
 the Yellow Butterflies, he was as much of a stranger 
 to his comrades as on the first day. All attempts to 
 gain a foothold had failed through the passive re- 
 sistance of the others. He hoped that the festivities 
 of the winter would bring him in closer touch and re- 
 lation with his regimental comrades. 
 
 To-day there was a dance at the house of Captain 
 von Warnow, who owned an elegant residence with 
 large rooms. The whole regiment was invited, and 
 people looked forward to the affair with eagerness, 
 because entertainments at the Warnows were alto- 
 getheniifferent from everyday humdrum affairs. As 
 in former winters, the Warnows this season had with 
 them as visitor their niece, Fraulein von Wiedemann, 
 a tall, supple, very good-looking brunette of twenty- 
 three. The young baroness was a well-known belle, 
 and if in the course of years she had lost a trifle of 
 her early charms, she was still rated as a beauty. 
 Her manner was as lovely and distinguished as her 
 appearance; she was a thoroughbred aristocrat. The 
 Wiedemanns were of very old nobility, and she was 
 
43 FIRST-CLASS MEN 
 
 brought up in the strictest principles of her caste 
 Her father had been an officer in a regiment of the 
 Guard, for whom a brilliant military future was 
 prophesied. But one day he stumbled during an in- 
 spection of the battalion and he retired from service. 
 During his active term he had spent his private for- 
 tune, which never had been large; now he was re- 
 duced to his pension of about four thousand marks, 
 on which he lived with his wife and daughter in a 
 small town. His son served as officer in a distin- 
 guished artillery regiment. In the house of the re- 
 tired major bitter poverty reigned. His son, in order 
 to live according to his station, required an allowance 
 which took nearly half the pension, and the other 
 half, in spite of all efforts, would not suffice to meet 
 the nec6ssa,ries of life even approximately. The 
 major was always over ears in debt. At first he did 
 not care much; Hildegarde, his beautiful daughter, 
 would make a brilliant match, and share her wealth 
 with him. But the years went on, and the brilliant 
 match did not materialize. He was sure HUdegarde 
 would never get a proper husband in the miserable 
 little town where they lived; so Frau von Warnow, 
 related to the Wiedemanns, and fond of Hildegarde, 
 took it upon herself to look out for a suitable mar- 
 riage. In this way Hildegarde had come to the capi- 
 tal for the first time five years before and had made 
 a genuine sensation everywhere. At the court festivi- 
 ties their Majesties were gracious to the beautiful 
 girl. Still, suitors did not materialize. 
 
 One admirer after the other retired when he be- 
 
FIRST- CLASS MEN 43 
 
 came aware of her financial condition. None of the 
 guard officers — and only such a one was then con- 
 sidered eligible by Frau von Warnow and Hildegarde 
 — ^was rich enough to marry a- girl whose whole 
 dower was her beauty and a family deep in debt. 
 For it was not only the father who contracted obliga- 
 tions on account of his future son-in-law, but also 
 the brother, who was known as a gambler and spend- 
 thrift. The father could not understand how his 
 daughter could come back after the first winter un- 
 engaged. He had counted so firmly upon a brilliant 
 match for her that he felt it' a heavy blow of Fate 
 when his hope did not find fulfillment. From that 
 blow he recuperated only slowly. But finally hope 
 woke again and had remained living up to the 
 present, though the prospects for him and for Hilde- 
 garde seemed to dwindle more and more. The 
 brother, too, still thought to be saved in this way. 
 It must happen some day. He was so deep in debt 
 that he had come to depend on occasional winnings 
 at the card table. It couldn't go on this way forever. 
 The rich relations assisted him from time to time 
 with a thousand mark note, but that did not begin 
 to suffice to pay his debts. Usually he gambled away 
 the money the very first evening. Every time he 
 found himself in a tight place he would write 
 to his sister : " Fulfill the hope we all repose in you ; 
 save us, even if you have to lower your expectations 
 to some extent. It's something terrible to think that 
 I might have a ' Buergerlicher ' brother-in-law, a fel- 
 low who belongs to another society and doesn't wear 
 
44 FIRST-CLASS MEN 
 
 a unifonn. But in the end I could stomach even 
 that if he only had plenty of money and was ready 
 to help." 
 
 Hildegarde scarcely read these letters any more; 
 she knew their contents in advance. And what the 
 brother wrote, the father said to her day after day, 
 whenever a bill came to the house, or when the 
 mother asked for money for current expenses, or 
 when the servants asked for their wages. Then it 
 was : " Cast away your pride of nobility until you 
 have a husband. There are wealthy ' Buergerlicher ' 
 enough who would be glad to have a beautiful, dis- 
 tinguished wife who would introduce them in society 
 and maintain a fashionable house. Once you have 
 a husband, you can show the aristocratic side to im- 
 press him. The more you show the sacrifice you made 
 when you married him, the more he will love and 
 revere you." 
 
 Something in Hildegarde often cried out : " What 
 am I to do ? I can do no more for your sakes than to 
 stand up and be admired. I can't offer myself to 
 the men. I am terribly ashamed of myself and 
 hardly know how I can bear it. All that you tell 
 me appears so horrible and miserable. I don't under- 
 stand how you can talk to me like that; you ought to 
 respect me, your own child, more than that. Money, 
 money, and always money. So that you can get rid 
 of your debts, I must sell myself to the first man 
 who offers enough for my body." 
 
 Often a harsh answer rose to her lips, but she con- 
 trolled herself bravely, and did not utter it. She 
 
FIBST-CLA8S MEN 45 
 
 knew only too well the terrible cares her father had 
 to battle with, how he lay awake through long nights 
 thinking where and how he could raise money. 
 When he took his leave from the army he had neg- 
 lected to look around for some ccupation, some 
 chance of earning. At that time he considered it be- 
 neath Mm and his dignity to become the representa- 
 tive of a life insurance company or something similar. 
 Now it was too late ; he was no longer young enough 
 to espouse any calling. To the end of his life he 
 must drag out the dreary existence of a retired officer 
 without occupation and without means. The mother 
 suffered even more than the father, ^he was still 
 an elegant woman, who sighed for the capital and 
 the brilliant entertainments where she was so much 
 admired. There was a bitter struggle between her 
 and her husband when he moved to the small town. 
 She had refused to go. She would have been willing 
 to restrict her expenses in every possible way if she 
 could only be permitted to continue breathing the 
 air where she had lived for years. 
 
 " Only a year or two, until Hildegarde has made 
 a rich match. Then we will come back here," her 
 husband said again and again. So she gave in at last. 
 At first she meant to be very economical even in a 
 small town, but imperceptibly she became again the 
 elegant woman who knew no change in her dress or 
 in her mode of living. Between her and her daugh- 
 ter there was scarcely any other subject for conver- 
 sation but the prospective marriage. There were 
 hours when she overwhelmed her child with violent 
 
46 FIB8T-CLA88 MEN 
 
 reproaches : " Why do other young girls, by no means 
 as pretty and stylish as you, get husbands ? Evidently 
 you are either too reserved, or you betray too plainly 
 the desire to get married." Hildegarde suffered from 
 such remarks, and from the whole domestic misery. 
 Still more terrible to her were the trips to her re- 
 lations. Certainly it was a kind of relief to be in a 
 rich house, and not to hear of eternal financial wor- 
 ries. But the letters of her parents followed her to 
 the capital, begging her to get money for them from 
 the relatives. And the entertainments were spoiled 
 for her, because every evening before retiring her aunt 
 would ask he» the question : " To-day again nothing 
 accomplished ?" 
 
 Although her aunt did not say it outright, and 
 did not let her feel it, Hildegarde could perceive 
 that she did not like the trouble of taking the young 
 girl out year after year, because she realized the use- 
 lessness of her efforts, so that she would have liked 
 it best if Hildegarde had not come back at all. 
 
 This year Hildegarde did not wish to go. Her 
 pride and her vanity revolted against the idea of be- 
 coming a burden to her relatives, and of playing a 
 role both ridiculous and pitiable. Often enough she 
 had noticed the mocking and the compassionate 
 glances of people who greeted her upon the visits 
 paid after her arrival. Some amused themselves in 
 the quiet at the idea that she would not give up the 
 task of catching a man, others, knowing her domestic 
 affairs, felt pity for her. 
 
 "I won't go. I won't go under any circum- 
 
FIR8T-CLA8S MEN 47 
 
 stances," she declared to her parents ; "I am too 
 proud and too much ashamed to be on exhibition 
 again this year at all the entertainments, and at the 
 end find neither lover nor buyer." 
 
 Day after day the struggle went on. One ' day 
 there was an execution in the house for five hun- 
 dred marks, the amount of a wine bill, and her 
 father went down on his knees before her, imploring 
 her to save him. At last she gave up her resistance. 
 But she seemed to herself so wretched, so miserable, 
 so low — she was so faint-hearted and desperate, that 
 she cried during the whole long trip on the train. 
 
 " Child, you never looked so homely before," was 
 her aunt's greeting. She only relented when Hilde- 
 garde pleaded a bad headache. Then the aunt 
 breathed a sigh of relief. But the next morning and 
 the following days the girl's looks were not satisfac- 
 tory to. her relative. There was no question but that 
 she was no longer the stunning beauty she had been. 
 The aunt looked at her with compassionate eyes, and 
 more to herself than to her niece she said: "It is 
 time, high time." 
 
 " It is," Hildegarde assented. " I can endure this 
 life no longer. If I don't find a suitor this season — 
 and I know full well I won't — then I shall look up a 
 position as governess, or companion, or something 
 like that. This much I do know — I won't go back 
 to the house of my parents." 
 
 " Hildegarde ! " Prau von Warnow looked aghast 
 at her niece, who stood there, pale, with deep blue 
 rings under the eyes, with a sad and despondent ex- 
 
48 FIRST-CLASS MEN 
 
 pression around the mouth. "Hildegarde, please 
 consider what you are saying. You accept a position, 
 you, a bom Baroness Wiedemann; that will never 
 do. You must show some regard for us." 
 
 Hildegarde did not reply, but her eyes showed such 
 determination that Frau von Warnow felt real con- 
 cern, and made a clean breast of it to her husband. 
 
 " That's the upshot of it," she said. " This year 
 Hildegarde will positively have been with us for the 
 last time. She is capable of carrying out her resolu- 
 tion, and if she does, it reflects on us. We shall be 
 reproached for not having supported her sufficiently 
 with money, and people will say: 'How can a rich 
 family like the Warnows suffer a near relative to ac- 
 cept a position like that for pay ? ' We shall be called 
 cold and loveless. The gossip will be, ' If Hildegarde 
 couldn't stay at home any longer, the only proper 
 thing would have been to take her into our house.' " 
 
 The captain's face expressed indignation, his 
 underlip quivered and protruded, he stroked his mus- 
 tache still further upward : " Dear Clara, pray spare 
 me such things. Settle that between you and Hilde- 
 garde. I have to think of more important matters. 
 Within the next few days the major is going to attend 
 the hour of instruction, and you know very well that 
 may come off all right, or again it may go all wrong." 
 
 " Very true," assented his wife, and he didn't hear 
 the irony in her words. 
 
 "Well, I am glad you can see it is of infinitely 
 greater interest to me at present that my fellows 
 should make out well than is the question whether 
 
FIRST-CLASS MEN 49 
 
 Hildegarde accepts a position or not. Moreover, you 
 know best." 
 
 His wife understood. He had long grown tired 
 of taking Hildegarde under his wing. Certainly he 
 liked her very much, but her family irritated his 
 nerves. Those eternal begging letters he found " sim- 
 ply disgusting," and yet he gave, partly to please 
 Hildegarde, but partly also from a feeling of caste. 
 He could not endure that the " Buergerlicher " mer- 
 chant should have an execution in the house of his 
 cousin, whose ancestors were already distinguished 
 in the days of the Thirty Years' War. Still, he 
 would have liked it best if his wife had not under- 
 taken the task of marrying off Hildegarde. Then 
 he wouldn't have come in such close touch with her 
 family. Whenever a letter from the Wiedemanns 
 came, he always had a sensation that he was handling 
 a matter not altogether clean. After he had read 
 the letter through, he would wash his hands with the 
 greatest care. Frau von Warnow was much worried 
 about Hildegarde. She must not take a position; 
 that would compromise her aunt too much. She 
 wouldn't take her into her own house either, so there 
 remained but one way out : Hildegarde must become 
 engaged this season at all hazards. But to whom ? 
 
 Frau von Warnow pondered over it the whole 
 night before the entertainment. Who should be 
 Hildegarde's neighbor at table? Only towards 
 morning did a saving thought come to her. It was 
 so simple she couldn't understand why it had not oc- 
 curred to her before. Winkler must marry Hilde- 
 
50 FIRST-CLASS MEN 
 
 garde. During breakfast she explained the plan 
 to her niece. The latter listened without showing any 
 special interest. What did it matter, so long as she 
 escaped from the domestic relations, from the terrible 
 worry about money, if she only need listen no longer 
 to the eternal and ever-repeated reproaches. A subtle, 
 resigned smile played around her lovely mouth. " So 
 this time the anchor of salvation is called Winkler. 
 In your eyes it is of no consequence, still I'd like to 
 know how he looks. Is he nice?" 
 
 Frau von Warnow was embarrassed for a moment. 
 " I don't know him as yet myself." 
 
 " And still you recommend him to me for a hus- 
 band ? " The accent bespoke irony and bitterness. 
 
 Frau von Warnow would not be swerved from her 
 course. "What do you want? He's rich, his father 
 is estimated a millionaire many times over. He is 
 exactly the thing for you. Have I not spoken of him 
 to you before? No? Well, then, I must have for- 
 gotten his name. Thank the Lord, one rarely comes 
 in contact with ' Buergerliche,' so that it is not 
 necessary to remember names. It's different with 
 Winkler. He now belongs to our regiment, is in my 
 husband's company. I suppose you know Erich's 
 views about ' Buergerliche ' oflSeers? Still he has 
 had to admit that Winkler made admirable efforts, 
 and that he will probably succeed, in the course of 
 time, in creating a sort of position for himself among 
 us. If Erich says that much, it means a good deal, a 
 decided recognition. Till now, Winkler, of course, is 
 still on the outside, although he has been with us for 
 
FIBST-CLA8S MEN 51 
 
 more than half a year. You know prejudices of 
 caste are not so easily put aside. Winkler is in a 
 false position, he is not taken for full value, but all 
 that would change the instant he was engaged to you 
 — ^he would then be remotely related to us. Through 
 you he would belong to one of the most prominent 
 families. As your promised husband, he would not 
 only be invited to the most exclusive houses occa- 
 sionally, as he is now, but he would be, in a sense, 
 at home there." 
 
 Frau von Warnow did not seriously mean what she 
 said; on the contrary, she herself would never recog- 
 nize Winkler as a relative. The rest of the family 
 would consider such a marriage as a mesalliance. 
 Winkler would either not be received at all, or he 
 would be restricted to formal intercourse, and to the 
 exchange of the most indispensable civilities. All 
 that was of no consequence, of course. The main 
 thing was that Hildegarde should make her match. 
 
 Frau von Warnow was silent for a moment, ex- 
 hausted by her long speech. Then she turned to her 
 niece : " What do you think of my plan ? " 
 
 Hildegarde did not answer. What was the use 
 of saying: " It's horrible to marry in such a manner- 
 a man whom I don't know, whom I have never seen, 
 and of whom I can't even say whether I should like 
 him or not." 
 
 The aunt was so preoccupied with her plan that 
 she did not even notice Hildegarde's silence. She 
 did not wait for an answer, but went on : " Of course, 
 Winkler takes you in to dinner this evening." 
 
52 FIBST- CLASS MEN 
 
 "But wouldn't it look rather odd if I had. a rela- 
 tively young officer as neighbor at table, when per- 
 haps older gentlemen will have to go in without a 
 lady." 
 
 Frau von Warnow bit her lips in vexation. Hilde- 
 garde was right; it wouldn't do to show her inten- 
 tion too plainly. After a moment's thought, sheJie- 
 gan: "Perhaps you are right; I'll arrange it differ- 
 ently. Freiherr von Mazemann may take you in and 
 Winkler sit on your other side. Since he comes to 
 our house for the first time to-day and belongs to 
 Erich's company, it will seem all right if I give him 
 a prominent place. I shall say a few friendly words 
 to him, perhaps persuade Erich to welcome him at 
 table with a little speech." 
 
 But Erich refused flatly : " That would be going 
 too far. I couldn't excuse that before my comrades. 
 It would actually provoke a protest. I cannot avoid 
 inviting Winkler as a member of the regiment and 
 an officer of my company. But to toast him to-night 
 when, aside from the servants, he is the only ' Buer- 
 gerlieher ' in our house, is simply unthinkable ! " 
 
 His wife's plan to have Hildegarde engaged to 
 Winkler did not meet with his approval. "Winkler 
 as a relative? Thank you! Next thing he and I 
 would 'thou' each other. I'd rather Hildegarde 
 shouldn't marry at all than to take a ' Buergerlicher ' 
 for a husband." 
 
 He walked up and down scolding, and quieted 
 down only when his wife, in order to appease him, 
 said, though she did not mean it : " Oh, we are not 
 
FIRST-CLASS MEN 53 
 
 as far as that yet. If it comes to that, we shall see 
 what is to he done." 
 
 Just then the servants entered to complete the 
 preparations for the dinner. For the present the 
 matter was dropped. It was time to dress for the 
 dinner, and the two only met again as the first car- 
 riage was arriving. 
 
 " What makes Hildegarde so late ? " 
 
 At last she appeared with the first batch of guests. 
 She looked beautiful in her yellow dress, though her 
 mouth showed a somewhat tired line. 
 
 Carriage after carriage entered the doorway. The 
 great reception hall filled more atid more. All the 
 arrivals knew each other, and when they met at 
 Warnow's, general conversation was quickly under 
 way. They had barely seen each other during the 
 whole summer. Now there was no end of questions, 
 where and how the summer had been spent, and talk 
 of coming society events, and court balls on the pro- 
 gramme in the near future. 
 
 Among the very last Winkler entered. He came 
 late purposely, in order to find the whole company 
 assembled, so that he could be presented to all of 
 them in shortest order. He hardly knew any of the 
 ladies. Few of them had received him when he made 
 his first official visiting round. 
 
 Was it accident or intention that deathly stillness 
 prevailed when he made his appearance ? George no- 
 ticed how the ladies suddenly dropped their conversa- 
 tion and stared at the strange face. For a moment 
 he was embarrassed. He did not even know his 
 
54 FIRST-OLASS MEN 
 
 hostess. Which one was it ? Then Frau von Warnow 
 advanced, and Winkler quickly drew near and kissed 
 her hand. 
 
 "A hearty welcome to you, Lieutenant Winkler; 
 I am so glad to see you with us." 
 
 The words were audible to everyone. Frau von 
 Warnow had accomplished her purpose. It could not 
 seem strange if she afterward showed him more atten- 
 tion. She exchanged some friendly words with him, 
 and then presented him to the ladies. 
 
 At last she turned to her niece : " Hildegarde, per- 
 mit me — Lieutenant Winkler." 
 
 So far Hildegarde had remained in the background. 
 In a way she had attempted to avoid the presentation. 
 It was painful to her to confront the man about 
 whom the conversation of the morning had taken 
 place. She could hardly conceal her embarrassment. 
 But George noticed nothing. He bowed to her, and 
 then went out into the hall to take off helmet and 
 sword. Hildegarde breathed a sigh of relief. The 
 iirst meeting was over. She made up her mind she 
 would engage her otTier neighbor at table in conver- 
 sation and pay no attention whatever to Winkler. 
 But when later on the company entered the dining- 
 room and sat down to the table adorned with fresh 
 flowers, Hildegarde soon discovered that her part- 
 ner had not grown any more intellectual nor any 
 more amusing since she had met him last year. Frei- 
 herr von Masemann was of the most ancient nobility, 
 and a very conscientious officer. In other respects 
 he was a nonentity. He strove with all his might to 
 
PIR8TI-CLA88 MEN 55 
 
 appear as the most distinguished among the distin- 
 guished. That was no easy task, since there were 
 counts and barons in the regiment. So he concluded 
 that it was his sacred duty to demonstrate by his 
 appearance and demeanor his high rank and distin- 
 guished station. He was reticent and self-contained, 
 because he considered that distinguished. He spoke 
 little, because he deemed it more aristocratic to ob- 
 serve. Now he only inquired of the lady how she had 
 been during the long time since he had the honor of 
 seeing her last. He asked how long she intended to 
 stay this season. When he had learned what actually 
 he was not interested to know, he considered his whole 
 duty discharged. He remained silent, and when 
 Hildegarde endeavored to entertain him he listened 
 with a kind of artificially interested expression, now 
 and then interposing a yes or no or some other in- 
 different brief remark as a matter of courtesy. 
 
 " Baroness, would you have the goodness to take the 
 dish?" 
 
 With a brief excuse she turned to her neighbor on 
 the right, took the dish out of Winkler's hand, and 
 handed it over to her neighbor to the left. 
 
 " May I trouble you once more, Baroness." 
 
 She turned again to the right and looked at Wink- 
 ler for the first time. Till now she had avoided it in- 
 tentionally. She was struck with surprise at his in- 
 telligent expression and at the seriousness of his 
 eyes. In his whole manner there was nothing that be- 
 tokened the officer of the guard, whose sole ambition 
 is to appear as blase and unintellectual as possible. 
 
56 FIRST-CLASS MEN 
 
 Something else pleased her too:, the look of gen- 
 uine admiration, almost of reverence, with which he 
 gazed at her. She saw at once that she pleased him, 
 that her beauty made a deep impression upon him. 
 It was a great relief to her that he did not at once 
 begin to pay court to her, in the manner of other 
 young officers, to play the irresistible who needs 
 only a wink of his eye in order to make the conquest 
 of every young girl he meets. 
 
 "Perhaps appearances deceive," thought Hilde- 
 garde, "but I have gained some knowledge of men, 
 and I believe he is good and serious." Suddenly she 
 felt a desire to talk with him. Apparently he had 
 not the courage to address her first, possibly did not 
 know what he might properly say to her, an 
 entire stranger to him. So it was for her to start the 
 conversation. Then she suddenly remembered that 
 she was to try the conquest of the heart of the young 
 officer by her side, his heart and his money, in order 
 to free her parents and her brother from their finan- 
 cial worries. 
 
 A hot flush rose to her cheeks. She bent low over 
 her plate, so as to avoid looking at him. 
 
 He misunderstood her embarrassment, and said 
 with honest candor : " I beg your pardon. Baroness, if 
 my looks offended you. I can only ofEer the excuse 
 that I have never yet found so much beauty and grace 
 united in one person. It was by no means my inten- 
 tion to grieve you." 
 
 That sounded so frank and honest, that his words 
 accomplished the opposite of their purpose; again a 
 
FIR8T-CLA88 MEN 57 
 
 flush mantled her face. In her heart she felt that 
 she was really unworthy of the young officer. 
 
 She regained her composure, and with an effort at 
 jesting, she said : " You begin your compliments be- 
 fore the champagne, Lieutenant." 
 
 " I am glad that you are not angry with me," he 
 replied. 
 
 The ice was now broken, and they began to talk to- 
 gether. George had a pleasant way of speaking and 
 a fine voice. It was a pleasure to her to listen to 
 him. Every word he said made it clear to her that 
 he was a thoroughly cultivated man, who had read a 
 great deal, had serious interests, and that he sur- 
 passed by far, in knowledge and intellectual culture, 
 all his comrades. 
 
 "If I had not become lieutenant, I should have 
 studied political economy," he said, in reply to one 
 of her remarks. "My father has a very large fac- 
 tory, employing thousands of workers. He is always 
 endeavoring to improve their social and material con- 
 dition. He provides healthy and cheap homes for 
 them, has founded a library, playgrounds and recrea- 
 tion places for the children; in short, he does every- 
 thing possible to ameliorate their condition. Naturally 
 my father has talked to me about all these things. He 
 has given me many books to read, and what I didn't 
 understand at first he explained. As I said, if I had 
 not become an officer, I would devote myself to politi- 
 cal economy." 
 
 " And why did you become an officer ? First of all, 
 does your calling give you satisfaction?" 
 
58 FIRST-CLASS MEN 
 
 He only replied to her last question : " I have been 
 but six years in the army, and cannot yet answer with 
 a direct yes or no whether this occupation will give 
 me lasting satisfaction. Naturally I hope and believe 
 it will ; if, later on, I should find that I was mistaken, 
 I should quit the service, and after a time take over 
 the management of the factory. My father has given 
 me free choice in all such matters. What I shall do 
 will depend in a degree on the position I can make 
 for myself here in the regiment. You will under- 
 stand that without further explanation on my part." 
 With a clever turn he introduced another subject and 
 then began to tell her more of the factory. Hilde- 
 garde listened with lively interest. What she heard 
 was entirely new to her. Of the life of the other 
 half and their work she had no idea; she had never 
 given thought to it. The families she frequented 
 either lived on their income or managed their poverty- 
 stricken estates as noblemen. Among them, to work 
 for money was looked upon as degrading. Time 
 seemed to fly; she talked only with George and forgot 
 her partner altogether. The latter tried to address 
 a few meaningless phrases to her, but when he noticed 
 that she kept on speaking with George he turned 
 away again. His main occupation at table was to ob- 
 serve the manner and behavior of his younger com- 
 rades, whether they were correct in every particular. 
 That was his specialty, for which he was feared. 
 Hardly a social affair passed that did not give him 
 an opportunity for taking a young comrade to task 
 on the next day. He was considered a high authority 
 
FIRST-CLASS MEN 59 
 
 in the realm of good manners, and his lessons were 
 valued. Unfortunately he had a disagreeable vein 
 of irony and sarcasm in imparting his wisdom, and 
 young officers dislike that more than bluntness. 
 
 Hildegarde looked up in surprise when the com- 
 pany rose from the table. In her aunt's house she 
 had often yearned for the end of the dinner while sit- 
 ting by a lieutenant, who was telling her of his stupid 
 recruits, or retailing a lot of stale jokes. Now she re- 
 gretted it. An informal ball closed the festival. It 
 was past midnight when the guests left. Hardly was 
 the last gone, when Prau von Warnow embraced her 
 niece. " Hildegarde, I am so glad. I watched both 
 of you during the dinner. Afterward Winkler did 
 not take his eyes off you. This time it will end seri- 
 ously. It was easy to see that he was smitten with 
 you. I shall write to your father about it to-morrow." 
 
 The words struck Hildegarde like a dash of cold 
 water. For the first time she had really enjoyed her- 
 self at an entertainment. During the lively conver- 
 sation she had forgotten her own fate and the misera- 
 ble condition of her parents. Now it all rose before 
 her clearly ; she felt crushed. 
 
 "Mark my words, Hildegarde, in three months, 
 at the latest, we shall celebrate your engagement. If 
 you had always "been as engaging and charming as 
 you were to Winkler you would have been married 
 long ago. To-night you did admirably. Winkler 
 had to fall in love with you." 
 
 Hildegarde was struck as if by a blow. In the 
 course of the evening she had forgotten that her 
 
60 FIB8T-CLASS MEN 
 
 aunt had a plan regarding Lieutenant Winkler. Now 
 she was told that she had spread her net cleverly. 
 What seemed like an insult to her sensitiveness ap- 
 peared to her aunt as an achievement worthy of 
 praise. 
 
 A hasty answer was on the tip of her tongue, but 
 she controlled herself and kept her peace. Long 
 since she had given up every endeavor to justify her- 
 self. Her aunt would not believe her, they would 
 not understand each other. 
 
 She was glad when at last she could seek her own 
 room. Then she burst into passionate tears. She was 
 not conscious of any guilt, and yet she felt like sink- 
 ing into the ground for very shame. 
 
IV. 
 
 Several weeks had passed. The fifth company went 
 on watch at noon under George's command. George 
 was in very bad hiimor. He had just spoken his 
 mind to a non-commissioned officer by the name of 
 von Nissen, the favorite of the captain. The captain 
 insisted strongly that no abusive language should be 
 used. He wanted his non-commissioned officers to 
 behave like perfect gentlemen. George had realized 
 long since the impracticability of this course. Cer- 
 tainly he disapproved of all abuse of soldiers, of blows 
 and tortures, of rude behavior towards subordinates ; 
 on the other hand, he also knew that at the right 
 time a vigorous bit of profanity did wonders. The 
 men actually expected that there should sometimes 
 be a hail of " donnerwetters " around their heads. 
 The captain was so refined that he would almost have 
 liked to address his soldiers as " sir." On the quiet, 
 the, fellows laughed about their superior. George 
 was convinced the company did not do all it might; 
 it often seemed to him as if the Polacks and Eastern 
 Prussians in his old regiment were more presentable 
 and more efficient soldiers than these parade troops 
 who were handled with kid gloves. The non-com- 
 missioned officers of the company followed in their 
 captain's footsteps, partly because they agreed with 
 him, largely from motives of self-preservation, be- 
 
62 FIBST-CLAS8 MEN 
 
 cause Herr von Warnow would pitilessly get rid of 
 any non-eommissioiied officer whose scolding or curs- 
 ing gave him annoyance. To George the most dis- 
 agreeable of the non-commissioned officers was von 
 Nissen, a former one-year volunteer, who had failed 
 on the way of promotion to officer's rank. Because 
 of his nobility he was the captain enfant gate, and 
 was to be promoted by and by to the rank of sergeant. 
 He was an eye-servant of the worst kind, always 
 faultlessly dressed, and making a good impression as 
 to his outward appearance. George did not know 
 how it was, but from the very first day he disliked 
 the man ; he mistrusted his grey, crafty eyes. It was 
 especially disagreeable to him that this particular 
 non-commissioned officer had been detailed to teach 
 him the ropes, as it were, so as to be able to tell him 
 at any time : " The captain desires this done so-and- 
 so." 
 
 George disliked the manner in which his subordi- 
 nate treated his men. Nissan was always outwardly 
 civil toward his subordinates, but his words seemed to 
 contain some secret threat. Often G«orge had no- 
 ticed how the men trembled before those piercing, 
 lowering eyes. He was struck by this again this 
 morning. The non-commissioned officer had spoken 
 to a man who had made a mistake in his drill, appar- 
 ently using the friendliest of terms, while his looks 
 portended nothing good. When George turned away, 
 he heard Nissen whispering to the man : " Before you 
 go on watch, you report to me ; I shall have a word to 
 say to you to rouse your sense of honor." The 
 
FIR8T-CLA88 MEN 63 
 
 soldier's face blanched, and George called the non- 
 commissioned officer aside. He knew the expression, 
 "rousing the sense of honor"; he knew that it was 
 always done with blows and ill-treatment. He said 
 so to Nissen; he disapproved of the order that the 
 man should report, and earnestly admonished the 
 non-commissioned officer to do nothing improper. 
 Nissen loked astonished and insulted. How could 
 the lieutenant think that of him ? He never did any- 
 thing wrotig, as the captain knew very well ; therefore 
 the captain had given him full permission to take the 
 men in hand whenever they did not do their duty. 
 
 Von Mssen stalked around as if he had received a 
 deadly insult, and George felt that the captain would 
 have it out with him for daring to doubt his fa- 
 vorite. 
 
 His premonition came true. The captain saw at 
 once there was something amiss with his favorite, and 
 asked the cause. Nissen, realizing full well that, 
 under the rules, he could enter a complaint against 
 his lieutenant only after twenty-four hours, would 
 not say anything at first. Finally, obeying a direct 
 order to speak, he told the captain what had hap- 
 pened, twisting his words so cleverly that what ap- 
 peared a simple statement of facts yet contained a 
 complaint about the wrong done him. 
 
 Herr von Wamow listened in silence, and then 
 said: "I shall speak to the lieutenant." When he 
 met Winkler he said rudely: "I have frequently 
 observed. Lieutenant, that you mistrust and suspect 
 the 'non-com' Nissen. Let me tell you he is 
 
64 FIB8T-0£AS8 MEN 
 
 the best ' noti-coin. " in my company. You only 
 know him for half a year, but I have known him 
 for three years. He has never given the least occa- 
 sion for reproof. His pleasure in the service and his 
 zeal must suffer through your fault-finding. His 
 sense of honor must be deeply offended, if you con- 
 sider him capable of such a shameful offence as the 
 ill-treatment of soldiers. I must ask you to consider 
 this seriously, Lieutenant." 
 
 On returning to his division, George felt it very 
 unpleasant that he had to supervise the service with 
 Nissen. He noticed the malignant look in the man's 
 eyes, and yet had to act as if he saw nothing. He 
 felt no wish to be harsh to him again, and to receive 
 in return rudeness on the part of his captain. Till 
 now, the relation between him and the captain had 
 been fairly good, and he did not wish to destroy it 
 intentionally. " It is no concern of mine," he said 
 to himself at last, " I am not responsible for the 
 company, and the captain is ; if he sees perfection in 
 that ' non-com,' I can stand it." 
 
 He resolved not to bother with the " non-com " in 
 the future, and within a few weeks he found that 
 things went better in that regard. Evidently the cap- 
 tain had made inquiries whether he let Mssen alone, 
 and had been answered in the affirmative. The cap- 
 tain grew more amiable toward him. 
 
 As to the service itself, George did not fare badly. 
 The inspection of his men turned out satisfactorily, 
 his winter work had been praised, his task as a prac- 
 tical officer had met with approval. He was decidedly 
 
FIRST-CLASS MEN 65 
 
 a good officer, his appearance in front of the men, 
 his personal conduct, his behavior towards his sub- 
 ordinates, never gave occasion for reproof. He was 
 strict but just and always equable in his manner, 
 and so won the confidence of the men. When one 
 day his orderly fell sick and had to be transferred 
 to the hospital, and the question was put to the 
 soldiers who would volunteer to serve meanwhile with 
 Lieutenant Winkler, almost the whole company ex- 
 pressed their readiness. That pleased even the cap- 
 tain when he heard of it. The behavior of the 
 privates gave George great satisfaction. It was an 
 agreeable sensation to him to feel that he had gained 
 the good-will of the ranlc and file. As to the service 
 itself, things went well with George, but in regard 
 to social comradeship he stood with the other ofii- 
 cers precisely where he had been on the first day. 
 He admitted to himself frankly that he had not ad- 
 vanced a single step so far. It was not his fault, 
 his mode of life was without reproach, his appearance 
 modest, he was courteous toward his seniors. Once 
 he overheard a remark indicating that his comrades 
 appreciated highly the fact tiiat he did not make a 
 showy use of his wealth, but lived with them in the 
 casino on a modest footing. 
 
 George had taken great pains trying to become 
 better acquainted with some of the comrades, to 
 sound their true character, and to find out whether 
 the aristocratic and reserved manner shown was only 
 a mask, or whether it reflected their innermost na- 
 ture. Particularly his. comrade in the company, 
 
66 FIB8T-GLA88 MEN. 
 
 Preiherr von Masemann, interested him in this re- 
 spect. In his relation with comrades of his own age 
 he always behaved as if he was at court. George 
 thought that the tone prevailing at table was some- 
 what artificially polished. There was lively conver- 
 sation, but no harmless mirth, no unrestrained joy- 
 fulness. George frequently felt bored. The conver- 
 sation was mostly small talk about the court. Stories 
 without point were told, stories that could be of in- 
 terest only to the others because they concerned 
 families of high nobility. As George did not know 
 most of those families, even by name, the conversa- 
 tion had absolutely no interest for him. A serious 
 subject was never touched. So he contented himself 
 with the r61e of a listener. As he rarely found occa- 
 sion to take an active part in the conversation, his 
 reticence hindered somewhat his becoming better ac- 
 quainted with the others. 
 
 By degrees the regiment had accommodated itself 
 to the irrevocable fact that George belonged to it. 
 But that was all. They no longer shed tears over it, 
 but they didn't seem glad of it either. They were 
 courteous, but in their intercourse they raised a kind 
 of bar which excluded confidential and intimate rela- 
 tions. So it came to pass that George did not have 
 a single friend in the regiment for whom he felt 
 attachment. They showed a certain reserve toward 
 him, especially his comrades of the same age. lYet, 
 naturally, George ought to have become more intimate 
 with them. The most supercilious among the super- 
 cilious crowd, strangely enough, seemed most attrac- 
 
FIRST-CLASS MEN 67 
 
 tive to George. It was Lieutenant von Willberg, the 
 same who burst into tears at the time, George's trans- 
 fer was announced. He seemed possessed of a very 
 devil of pride, but sometimes had lucid moments, as 
 George called it, when he showed a pleasant, sunny- 
 nature, when his youthful, easy-going ways prevailed. 
 At such moments George realized why little Willberg, 
 in spite of his faults, was the spoiled fellow and the 
 favorite of the regiment. George did not know of 
 Willberg's behavior on the announcement of the 
 transfer, and therefore often felt a wish to become 
 more intimate with him. So far the occasion had 
 never offered. 
 
 One day when George entered the regimental home, 
 he found there quite an assembly. Several guests had 
 been invited, comrades from other regiments, almost 
 exclusively of the cavalry. Naturally, the guests were 
 seated at the upper end of the table, with the older 
 Yellow Butterflies. Those sitting at the lower end 
 looked across not without envy. The Hussars and the 
 Uhlans are looked upon with considerable respect 
 by the infantry of the guard, because the cavalry is 
 considered the most distinguished arm. It was 
 noticeable how glad they all were to have such dis- 
 tinguished guests with them. Each vied with the 
 other in amiability, even old captains and some 
 younger officers of the staff, bachelors, who dined 
 every day at the regimental home, made no conceal- 
 ment of the fact that they were pleased by the visitors 
 and felt honored by their presence. When they rose 
 from the table and repaired to the smoking-room for 
 
68 PIBST-CLASB MBM 
 
 coffee and eigafs, comfortable laige ann-ehairs were 
 offered to the guests, the Yellow Butterflies standing 
 around in semicircle. Each endeavored to be noticed 
 by the cavalry. To have dined with them was 
 considered the highest distinction, for the cavalry 
 sometimes accepted invitations from friendly regi- 
 ments, but was extremely cautious in the selection of 
 guests they admitted to their own home. Little 
 Willberg outdid himself in his endeavor to be noticed 
 by the cavalry. He stood by the side of Baron Gers- 
 bach. Whose parents lived in his own province. He 
 made himself as agreeable as possible in an endeavor 
 to draw his guest into an interesting conversation. 
 It seemed to make no impression upon the Uhlan, who 
 sat there, his long legs outstretched, nonchalantly 
 smoking one cigarette after the other. 
 
 But little Willberg was bound to impress him, if 
 not as agreeable companion then as a go-ahead, lively 
 fellow. At last he said : " How is it, are we going to 
 have a little game by and by ? " 
 
 Gambling was discussed openly in the regimental 
 home. Of course it was prohibited. Prom time to 
 time, at regular intervals, the king's orders regarding 
 games of chance were read to the oflSeers, and listened 
 to with the reverence due to commands coming from 
 such high quarters. Beyond that nobody cared for 
 the prohibitory regulation. The superior officers 
 knew about it, and closed their eyes. Now and then 
 it happened that the commanders would gamble with 
 their own officers. What could the superiors do? 
 You might watch over the execution of an order in a 
 
FIB8T-0LA88 MEN. 69 
 
 little town; in a great garrison it became an impossi- 
 bility. OflScers will gamble, and if they cannot do it in 
 the regimental home or at the casino, they will gamble 
 in some club, or with other regiments, or in their 
 own quarters. Whoever wants to gamble, always finds 
 the opportunity. OfFieially it is asserted, of course, 
 there is no gambling. Besides, there is a difference 
 between gambling and gambling. If anybody loses 
 twenty marks, it is nobody's business, nor if he loses 
 one hundred. If somebody in bad luck loses a thou- 
 sand marks, he is no more to blame than if he had 
 put twenty marks on a card. If the superiors were to 
 punish for play every officer who touches cards, the 
 number of officers would be reduced by more than half 
 within one year. The lieutenants who are caught at 
 cards are punished, for the regimental commanders 
 who tolerate gambling are liable to be dismissed, if 
 it is found that they have not succeeded in enforcirig 
 the royal orders. Bach colonel would like to become 
 a general, and is by no means anxious to risk his 
 military existence unnecessarily by a report about 
 gambling he might just as well omit making. 
 
 Little Willberg repeated his question, to which the 
 Uhlan so far had not deigned to reply. Now the guest 
 looked at him with astonishment. "You just wait 
 a little, you'll get tid of your money quick enough. 
 Have you got so much that you must absolutely lose 
 it?" 
 
 Willberg boastingly put his hand to his pocket: 
 " Quite fuU, a new supply arrived to-day." 
 
 (Willberg did not know how it happened, but some- 
 
70 FIR8T-CLA88 MEN 
 
 how he felt a little awkward. It had .taken him a 
 good while to squeeze a thousand marks out of his 
 " old man " for the purpose of paying some pressing 
 debts. He felt that it wouldn't be quite the thing 
 to risk the money at play. Yet he would have died 
 sooner than to admit he had been only bluffing, and to 
 make himself ridiculous before the Uhlan in his high 
 boots with silver spurs. At all events, he was firmly 
 resolved not to risk more than half of the money. If 
 he should lose that he would stop. Should he win, 
 then he would see what to do next. 
 
 Baron Gersbach was known as a great gambler. It 
 was an open secret that he drew his main support 
 from play. He had long since spent his own fortune. 
 He had no allowance from home, and yet his pockets 
 were always stuffed with thousand-mark notes. Some 
 people wondered to see him still tolerated in the army. 
 Evidently he had protection in very high quarters. 
 Stories went around that even his superiors and men 
 of the highest circles had gambled with him.'^ Cu- 
 riously enough he was an excellent officer, an excep- 
 tionally good horseman who had achieved success at 
 the races. He might be called a professional gambler, 
 but it was known that his play was faultlessly cor- 
 rect, faultlessly distinguished. He didn't gamble 
 every day, but occasionally when he felt the necessity 
 of making a great coup. He touched the cards only 
 when an inner voice told him: "To-day you win!" 
 Unless he felt sure of that, he could not be drawn into 
 any games. So he really always succeeded in winning. 
 It was somewhat astonishing that he could go on find- 
 
FIBST-GLA8S MEN 71 
 
 ing people who were willing to let him win their 
 money. But they all hoped that he. might lose this 
 time, therefore they tried their luck again and again. 
 Those ^ho had npver played with him before con- 
 sidered it a great honor and distinction to be invited 
 to a game with a Uhlan. You were not considered in 
 full standing until you had played with him at least 
 once. 
 
 From a sense of courtesy, they waited until the staff 
 officers had gone away. One major felt it a hardship 
 to leave. He was a gambler to the marrow of his 
 bones, and would have liked ever so much to remain. 
 They all knew it, but he owed a sacrifice to his posi- 
 tion. It wouldn't do for him to take the money of 
 the young lieutenants, at least not in the regimental 
 home. 
 
 When the staff officers had left, the artificial steadi- 
 ness of the rest gave way. George looked at his 
 comrades in astonishment. They had often played 
 in his presence, but he had never seen them so ex- 
 cited. It was the first time that their calmness and 
 correct demeanor had disappeared. It was as if an 
 evil spirit had taken possession of them, a wild agita- 
 tion, the passion of gambling had seized them all. 
 They were nervous and excited, preoccupied with the 
 question : " Will you win or lose ? " Their eyes shone, 
 their faces blanched, their hands quivered with the 
 growing excitement. 
 
 Only one remained entirely calm — ^the Uhlan. He 
 sat back in his chair, his legs still outstretched, and 
 did not seem to notice in the least the preparations 
 
TO FIR8T-0LA8S MEN 
 
 for the coming battle. Whether the same calm was 
 within him, who could know? Externally, nothing 
 betrayed excitement. 
 
 At last the gaming table was ready and the aide- 
 de-camp of the regiment. Count Wettborn, turned to 
 Baron Gersbach: "Well, how is it, are we going to 
 have a little game ? " It was for the Uhlan to decide. 
 If he said no, the whole excitement went for noth^ 
 ing, since without him it would only be a kind of 
 family affair, petty inoffensive gambling. The Uhlan, 
 however, was in good humor to-day. This morning, 
 rising, he felt so easy and well, that an inner voice' 
 had told him : " To-day you may risk a great stroke." 
 But as a cautious man, he said to himself : *' If my 
 Leda takes the hurdle without a break, I shall risk 
 it." And Leda had taken the obstacle three times in 
 perfect shape. Then he looked in his carefully con- 
 ducted diary to see what regiment he had not visited 
 for a long time. The decision was in favor of the 
 Yellow Butterflies. He was satisfied that they would 
 be willing to pay a few thousands without a murmur 
 and without a complaint for the honor of his visit. 
 So he inquired by telephone of the aide-de-camp of 
 the regiment whether he might come to dinner and 
 bring a few friends. Count Wettborn was not ex- 
 actly a light of science, but he understood the mean- 
 ing of the question, and being himself a passionate 
 gambler, he accepted joyfully. 
 
 The Uhlan rose from his chair with inimitable non- 
 chalance and took the seat offered by his eager com- 
 rades. Putting his hand into his pocket, he brought 
 
FIRST-CLASS MENi 73 
 
 forth his pocket-book. The others noticed with a 
 certain uneasiness the package of thousand-mark notes 
 it contained. They were struck for a moment with the 
 thought known to all gamblers. At play only the 
 man who has the necessary funds and can stand pass- 
 ing mishaps, will win in the end. Surely the Uhlan 
 had the necessary funds, who could buck agaihst that ? 
 Then the aide-de-camp, Count Wettbom, put his 
 pocket-book upon the table, and the Yellow Butterflies 
 noticed with a kind of pride that it contained a little 
 fortune. The count was rich and was in addition the 
 fortunate nephew of a rich old uncle who gave him 
 large sums of money from time to time. 
 
 "Isn't he a fine fellow, our count?" one Yellow 
 Butterfly whispered to the other. " We may well be 
 proud of him, he's all right from crown to sole, and 
 so rich too, I believe even the cavalry envies him us." 
 
 The others also went into their pockets. Those 
 whose money consisted of notes of large denomina- 
 tions carried in a pocket-book, brought it forth with 
 more or less ostentation. The others carrying a 
 limited supply of coin, produced a few gold pieces. 
 In the game pf the " Merry Seven " bets from twenty 
 marks upward were allowed. ■ Little Willberg pro- 
 duced his thousand-mark note. Deeply in debt, he 
 had been proud of its possession as he walked through 
 the streets a little while before. He had felt easy 
 and relieved as if eyerybody must see in him the 
 owner of a thousand-mark note. He had felt himself 
 rich. 'Sow, compared with the amounts displayed in 
 the pocket-books of the others, he felt miserably poor. 
 
74 FIB8T-CLAS8 MEN. 
 
 He was ashamed of his small means, filled with envy 
 and dismay. Wasn't it an eternally miserable story, 
 always to count with small amounts and to say to 
 yourself : " You can't do this and you can't do that," 
 always to be obliged to borrow money. It must be 
 wonderfully nice to own a full pocket-book. It was 
 chic to carry your money in such a pocket-book. _ In a 
 small garrison it would not matter whether you had 
 more or less money, but at the capital where you met 
 so many distinguished and rich people, it was truly 
 tragic not to own more than that trifling thousand- 
 mark note. 
 
 The game had been going on for some time, the 
 Uhlan holding the bank. " Well, Willberg, don't you 
 want to bet? You were so impatient a little while 
 ago." 
 
 Willberg roused himself from his musing. He had 
 been standing in deep thought. The gold passing 
 from hand to hand, glittering, had struck his eyes, 
 rousing in him but one thought which took complete 
 possession of him — ^to own all that money before him. 
 
 " Oh yes, quite right. Hundred marks on the 
 seven. No, two hundred." 
 
 A second later the money was lost. 
 
 " Two hundred again." 
 
 They also went. 
 
 " Two hundred again." This time luck turned his 
 way, fourteen hundred marks was paid out to him. 
 He now bet four hundred, and won again, receiving 
 almost three thousand marks as his winning. 
 
 " My man, you are in famous^ luck." 
 
MBST-CLASS MEN. 75 
 
 They marvelled at little Willberg as if he had 
 accomplished the greatest miracle. Even the Uhlan 
 gave him an approving look, paying his winning with 
 a loud " bravo." This praise made Willberg so proud 
 that he forthwith bet another four hundred marks 
 on the seven and lost. 
 
 George had looked at the game for a long time 
 without taking any part in it, now he found it a bore 
 and thought of stealing away. He passed the reading- 
 room, when somebody called to him. Turning around 
 he saw first Lieutenant von Kirehberg seated in an 
 arm-chair. 
 
 " Where are you going ? " he inquired. 
 
 George felt guilty. It was not considered correct 
 to take French leave. Still he said : " I am going 
 home." 
 
 The other looked up in surprise: "Are you 
 through ? Lost everything ? " 
 
 " I don't gamble at all, Herr Oberleutnant." 
 
 " Ach nee ! " The other came near dropping his 
 monocle, and looked at George for a while as if he 
 couldn't comprehend. " Ach nee ! " he said again, 
 and then went on : " Come, sit down with me, you 
 must tell me that. You must tell me how you manage 
 to live without gambling, or rather how you can 
 withstand the temptation ? " 
 
 "I find that very easy, Herr Oberleutnant. The 
 game has absolutely no charm for me. A few years 
 ago, when I was in Monte Carlo, I looked on for hours 
 at a time without wishing for a moment to bet." 
 
 " Ach nee ! " The other still stared at him devoid 
 
76 FIB8T-GLA88 MEN, 
 
 of comprelieiision. *' Aeli nee, I can't understand it. 
 What do you do with your money, if you don't 
 gamble ? ^ 
 
 " What I don't use during the month, I take to the 
 bank." 
 
 " Ach nee, can anybody do that? I mean, do you 
 enjoy that? Why don't you spend all your money? 
 You are not a merchant, but a young lieutenant- I 
 can tell you, if I had money I should not put it away." 
 
 "Kirchberg, where have you been?" came the 
 query from a comrade just entering. "You know, 
 we are partners at play. Our first capital is gone to 
 the devil. Have you got any more money about 
 you?" 
 
 " Is the tJhlan winning already ? " 
 
 The other scratched his ear. " Horribly." 
 
 Kirchberg lighted another cigarette. " Then we 
 had better let him go on in his first fury. Let him 
 take first the ducats of other people, then we shall 
 try to get them back. Whom has he taken on just 
 now ? " 
 
 " Little Willberg. That fellow is in uncanny luck 
 to-day, he bets steadily on the seven, and it turned 
 up five times in succession. The fellow is rolling in 
 gold, and naturally the Uhlan would like to get his 
 money back." 
 
 " Has Willberg steady nerves ? " 
 
 " How should he have ? He is trembling with excite- 
 ment." 
 
 " That's too bad, he's lost; I have got to take that 
 in." 
 
FIRST-CLASS MEN. 77 
 
 He rose and went back to the gaming-room . In- 
 voluntarily, George followed. He felt as if he must 
 help Willberg, as if he must whisper to him: "Be 
 sensible and stop now; pocket your winnings, and 
 you'll have enough for a long time." 
 
 Willberg wouldn't think of stopping. For a little 
 while luck had turned against him, but with another 
 turn he begaii winning again. The others had long 
 ceased to play, looking on at the battle between the 
 two. Willberg was excited and nervous, feverish and 
 trembling; the Uhlan perfectly calm, immovable like 
 a statue, not an eyelash quivering, his hand not 
 trembling in the least, when he pushed the winnings 
 over to his adversary. He had to pay out large sums, 
 the money that he had won before from the others 
 was long gone. The notes originally taken from his 
 pocket-book had dwindled down to a small heap. Gold 
 and paper accumulated in front of Willberg until he 
 had about twenty thousatid marks in the pile. 
 
 The TJhlan counted his money. "I can accept a 
 thousand marks on the seven for the last time; if I 
 lose and have to pa,y out seven thousand marks, the 
 bank is broke." 
 
 An indescribable excitement seized all of them. 
 Never beforehad theyseen the Uhlan losing so heavily. 
 The Yellow Butterflies were full of pride that one of 
 their own men should beat the famous gambler. Will- 
 berg decided to risk the last stroke. The seven had 
 brought luck to him so often he would remain faith- 
 ful until the end. 
 
 " A thousand marks on the seven." 
 
78 FIB8T-CLA88 MEN, 
 
 The banker turned the cards: "Bight." Com- 
 posedly he raked in the money. 
 
 " Again a thousand marks on the seven." 
 
 The cards showed six. 
 
 For a second lightning shone from the eyes of the 
 TJhlan. He knew he had won the battle. It wouldn't 
 be a quarter of an hour before he would recoup his 
 losses. It would have been unthinkable that he 
 should lose to-day, lose to this boy who kept on play- 
 ing so foolishly, so thoughtlessly. And Willberg did 
 lose, the money in front of him shrunk more and 
 more. Several times the others felt the temptation 
 of calling to him : " Stop now, save at least a few 
 thousand marks." But as they had seen the Uhlan, 
 their guest, lose all before, they had no right to cau- 
 tion the other fellow now. 
 
 "Well, Herr von Willberg, have you still courage? " 
 
 The latter stood there, pale as a corpse. Every 
 drop of blood had vanished from his face. He had 
 lost everything, even his own thousand marks that 
 he had been so proud of. Not a single coin remained 
 in front of him. 
 
 " Do you want to play on ? " the Uhlan asked a sec- 
 ond time. 
 
 Willberg looked around, perhaps some- of the com- 
 rades might lend him money. But now the aide-de- 
 camp interfered : " No, let it be enough for to-day for 
 you, now the rest of us are going to try our luck." 
 
 The game went on. Willberg entered one of the 
 adjoining rooms and collapsed into a chair. The 
 tremendous tension of his nerves was followed by re- 
 
FIB8T-CLA88 MEN 79 
 
 action. He buried his face in his hands and broke 
 down in convulsive sobbing. 
 
 Not far from him stood George, looking at his 
 comrade with compassionate eyes. He did not under- 
 stand how one could be so addicted to gambling, yet 
 he felt pity for this poor fellow whose financial con- 
 dition was no secret to him. He had been rich for a 
 moment, now he was poorer than ever, because he had 
 known for a fleeting instant the sensation of owning 
 money. It occurred to George that he might approach 
 his comrade offering him his help, but he did not 
 have the courage to intrude, he did not wish to risk 
 a refusal. He realized that he was right about that, 
 when WiUberg presently arose, having composed him- 
 self, and acted as if he didn't see George making ready 
 to go home. Was he ashamed of his reckless gambling 
 or of his tears? He left without even greeting 
 George. 
 
 Therefore he was the more astonished when Will- 
 berg paid him a visit at noon the next day in his own 
 quarters. He guessed from the first the objecf of 
 this call, and his guess became a certainty when he 
 saw his conirade's pale face. 
 
 After a few words of greeting, WiUberg came to the 
 point. "You were present yesterday evening, even 
 if only as a spectator, and you are aware that I have 
 lost all my winnings. I lost a thousand marks more 
 which I had received yesterday to pay some pressing 
 bills. I have tried to borrow the money from one of 
 the comrades, but the Uhlans got them all cleaned out, 
 ^verjr one of them, so that no one to-day has a penny, 
 
80 FIRST-CLASS MEN. 
 
 Even our count walks around with an empty pocket- 
 book. So I came to you to ask you for the loan of 
 a thousand marks. I tell you openly and honestly 
 that I am unable to fix the day wh^ I can return you 
 the money, but I shall do it as soon as I am able, upon 
 my word." 
 
 "That isn't necessary at all." George had risen 
 and taken from his desk the note which he now 
 handed to his comrade. 
 
 Willberg squeezed his hand in gratitude: "You 
 render me a very great service." After an instant he 
 went on, visibly embarrassed: "I have still another 
 request. I can rely on it, I trust, that you won't tell 
 anybody I borrowed money of you." 
 
 " How should I ? " George asked astonished. 
 
 This answer did not satisfy the other. " Don't take 
 it amiss, I beg of you, if I ask you to promise me 
 upon your word not to mention my visit to anybody." 
 
 George looked up in surprise. How did Willberg 
 come to ask such a thing of him ? But he said : " If 
 it eases your mind, I'll cheerfully give you my word, 
 though I don't see quite the object of it." 
 
 Willberg breathed a sigh of relief, and after thank- 
 ing him again most cordially, he left. 
 
Weeks had come and gone, and George still occu- 
 pied what he called the isolated stool in the regiment. 
 He had no' friend to whom he could attach him- 
 self, and who could be attached to him. His hope 
 that WiUberg would become more companionable since 
 he had relieved him from his embarrassment, was not 
 realized. On the contrary, WiUberg seemed to know 
 him less than ever, although he still owed him the 
 money. George was not exactly vexed over it, he had 
 had depressing experiences in that respect in his old 
 regiment. Having grown up in other surroundings, 
 he could not understand the ideas of the Yellow But- 
 terflies in money matters. 
 
 They did not hesitate a moment to borrow of each 
 other, even in the presence of the orderlies. They 
 were not mincing about telling the orderlies: "Ad- 
 vance this or that for me,". and the money was not 
 always returned the same day. It was borrowing, 
 borrowing, wherever possible, it was owing and owing 
 in all nooks and corners. In, the Stammkneipe where 
 they met sometimes of aa evening because they could 
 not always sit in the regimental home, some of the 
 gentlemen owed the waiter fifty, sixty marks of money 
 borrowed, and besides, a hu'ndred marks more for 
 food and drink. Those who were deepest in debt to 
 the waiter, lived at a high rate, ate the most expen- 
 
82 FIB8T-GLAS8 MEN 
 
 sive dishes, drank the most expensive wines, and said 
 on taking leave : " Muller, lend me twenty marks, you 
 know you'll get them hack." Yes, but when? Some 
 of the gentlemen owed the waiter for many months 
 without thinking of paying him. As long as they 
 wore the King's coat, the money was sure enough. 
 George noticed with astonishment that in this regard 
 the officers in the capital were as strict as in his old 
 garrison. There it happened that in the Stamm- 
 kneipe which they had frequented for many years 
 a breach took place between them and the proprietor. 
 The oflBcers of the garrison boycotted the place, pledg- 
 ing their word to each other that the owner should 
 never again make a penjiy out of them. Ko one 
 thought of paying the debts owing partly to the pro- 
 prietor, partly to the waiters. When the proprietor 
 complained to the commander of the regiment, the 
 commander did not order payment within twenty-four 
 hours. He gave his ofiBcers six weeks' time to get 
 the matter settled. The proprietor and the waiters 
 who needed the money badly might manage as they 
 could till then. 
 
 George remembered another affair which had hap- 
 pend only a few weeks before. One day a first lieu- 
 tenant appeared at dinner in great excitement, and 
 said the hair-dresser whom they all patronized had 
 written dunning him for the trifle of a :few hundred 
 marks, and threatening to collect the money by mail, 
 as he needed it badly. The officer admitted frankly 
 that the hair-dresser had sent him bills from time to 
 time, but that he had never 3)aid a penny. There was 
 
PIRST-GLA88 MEN, 83 
 
 a storm of mdignation over the letter. Why should 
 the man need money all of a sudden? Couldn't he 
 wait? The few hundred marks were certain to be 
 paid, and collection by mail is not resorted to by de- 
 cent people. The upshot was an order to the Yellow 
 Butterflies to boycott the hair-dresser. The debts 
 contracted there by the officers still remained unpaid. 
 
 In regard to money they had easy consciences and 
 lax principles. Debts were considered such only so 
 far as they concerned money borrowed. What was 
 owing to tradespeople, did not count. It was their 
 business to give credit. They might wait two or 
 three years, sometimes even longer, before they ob- 
 tained their money. They ought to be glad to see 
 their business frequented, and they had to pay for the 
 opportunity of such distinguished custom which 
 served to advertise them. Borrowing went on all 
 around. Once it happened that the lieutenant owed 
 twenty marks to his own orderly. This came to light 
 at the discharge of the recruits. Before they left, 
 the colonel asked the men: "Has any one of you a 
 claim of any kind against the regiment? If so, let 
 Mm report." One of the men advanced and spoke up : 
 "My lieutenant owes me twenty marks he borrowed 
 when money was sent to me from home." Upon in- 
 vestigation this was found to be true. The man 
 finally received his money, the lieutenant was rebuked 
 severely. Yet it was considered an outrage that a dis- 
 charged soldier should expose his former lieutenant 
 in such a manner. Whether the man was able to do 
 without the twenty marks, nobody cared. 
 
84 FIB8T-CL'A88 MENi 
 
 George remained an entire stranger to his comrades. 
 Nobody noticed him. Therefore he was greatly aston- 
 ished when one day after dinner the aide-de-camp sat 
 down by his side, and engaged him in a long and 
 friendly conversation. He did not understand the 
 reason for this change of manner until light came to 
 him, when Count Wettbom said : " I have meant to 
 ask you for some time, why your father does not take 
 steps to become ennobled ? Of course, it is not easy, 
 but your father stands in such high favor with His 
 Majesty that the difficulties could be surmounted if 
 he is willing to spend a few hundred thousand marks 
 for some charitable work. He has the means, why 
 doesn't he do it ? " 
 
 " Because my father is proud of his ' Buergerlicher ' 
 name." 
 
 The count tapped the floor embarrassed, with his 
 foot, then went on : " Certainly, your father is right, 
 as far as he himself is concerned, but he ought to con- 
 sider your position. You would occupy an entirely 
 different position in society once you were a baron or 
 a freiherr. The world, lays great stress on such 
 things, and I think the world is right. ISTow that j'ou 
 belong to such a swell regiment, the nobility would be 
 of very great value." 
 
 The count dwelt on the subject at length, and 
 George began to realize that the aide-de-camp did not 
 speak from a sudden impulse, but upon deliberate con- 
 sideration, evidently inspired by the colonel or some 
 other superior. The blood mounted to George's face, 
 he blushed for the other who talked to him thus. 
 
FIB8T-0LA88 MEN\ 85 
 
 Did those noble lieutenants, who were nothing when 
 they doffed the uniform, really consider a " von " 
 bought for a few hundred thousand marks so much 
 more valuable than an old " Buergerlicher " name that 
 commanded the esteem of the whole business world ? 
 
 He could not refrain from the reply : " Nobility has 
 been offered my father often enough, but he has 
 always refused." 
 
 "I can't understand that." The count fumbled 
 with his monocle and looked at George perplexed. '•' I 
 really don't understand it," he repeated. George real- 
 ized that he was in earnest. He could not compre- 
 hend that nobility might be refused for the sole 
 reason that somebody took pride in his "Buerger- 
 licher " name. ' 
 
 For a time the aide-de-camp sat in silence, then 
 closed the conversation, saying: " You might write to 
 your father again about this matter, or talk it over 
 with him. Perhaps you may change his views." 
 
 George made no answer. He knew how his father 
 laughed at people who, havitig become possessed of 
 a large fortune, had no other ambition than to be 
 ennobled. He almost resented the aide-de-camp's talk 
 to him as an insult. On thinking the matter over 
 calmly, however, he could not find so much fault with 
 him. Did not he himself notice daily the preferences 
 enjoyed by nobility, even in our own enlightened time? 
 Didn't he know how men meriting distinction and 
 praise were rewarded by elevation to the aristocracy? 
 Was not nobility preferred in the army? If three 
 officers of equal qualification were considered for pro- 
 
-86 FIRST-GLASS MEN 
 
 motion, one of them being a noble, was not almost in- 
 variably the nobleman selected ? If in an exceptional 
 case a " Buergerlicher " won in the competition, was 
 he not ennobled shortly afterward? The rank of 
 officers, as the old saying goes, was only for the 
 nobility. That seemed true down to the present day. 
 If a " Buergerlicher " did not distinguish himself in 
 a striking way, he could not advance in his career 
 and remained behind. 
 
 Was it difEerent in society? George had now at- 
 tended enough entertainments to know that every- 
 body bowed before nobility, that the youngest noble 
 lieutenant was preferred to a " Buergerlicher " staff 
 officer. He had noticed often enough how they whis- 
 pered about him, how they could not believe that he 
 belonged to such a swell regiment. Though the words 
 were spoken in low tones, he had overheard a young 
 lady whispering to her friend at a ball: "If Lieu- 
 tenant Winkler tries to engage me, I shall tell him 
 my card is filled. I don't dance with a ' Buergerlicher' 
 as a matter of principle." The other ladies too always 
 considered him as a stranger. A slight inclination 
 of the head was his only greeting, and the few who 
 would shake his hand did it without interrupting 
 their conversation. They treated him in a way show- 
 ing their condescension. On such occasions he felt iso- 
 lated. His comrades talked and laughed with the 
 ladies, had a thousand secrets and a thousand little 
 confidences, while he stood bored in a corner. He was 
 a stranger, and nobody took pains to introduce him 
 and to assist him in making acquaintances. 
 
FIRST-CLASS MEN 87 
 
 The only person who was always the same toward 
 him was Hildegarde. They met often in society, and 
 a cordial friendship had sprung up between Ihem. 
 Hildegarde had spoken of herself and George to her 
 relatives as the two " outcasts." George was not yet 
 introduced, while she was pass^e in society. She had 
 been a young girl for so long that interest in her was 
 dying out. She was invited because it could not be 
 avoided, but people hoped she would refuse. When 
 she came after all, mocking remarks passed behind her 
 back. Hildegarde acted as if she did not notice. Yet 
 she understood the looks with which people gazed at 
 her, and if she didn't hear the words, she knew what 
 the whispered remarks meant. She felt it as a great 
 sacrifice to go to such affairs, and would say to herself 
 after every one : " That was the last to-day, to-morrow 
 I go home." 
 
 But the mortal fear of her home always caused 
 her to think : " I'd rather endure those remarks than 
 face the misery and distress and the insulting re- 
 proaches that would await me there." Sometimes she 
 admitted to herself frankly that she also remained for 
 George's sake. Not that she was in love with him. 
 She h^d been told so many Jimes love was nonsense. 
 AU that mattered was whether a man had money or 
 not. Her relatives had talked before her about the 
 most sacred sentiments with such brutal frankness 
 that she believed her heart was no longer capable of 
 love. In George, however, she saw a true friend. He 
 was always attentive to her. When he saw that she 
 stood alone, he came to her side. She felt his eyes 
 
88 FIBST-CLA88 MEN. 
 
 resting upon' her, and his looks seemed to say: "I 
 don't know what sorrow oppresses you, but I feel- that 
 you are strange and lonely here like myself, and there- 
 fore I will do for you whatever I can." 
 
 They met again this evening at the American Lega- 
 tion during a great reception, and she was glad to see 
 him. To please him she had dressed with special care, 
 putting on a new costume, a gift of her aunt. In 
 joyful expectation she had begun to dress earlier than 
 usual. A quarter of an hour before the time to start, 
 she stood before the looking-glass smiling to herself. 
 She was glad of her own beauty^ she knew that to- 
 night she would attract attention. 
 
 She was still standing, lost in thought, when a 
 knock at her door startled her. " Is it time ? I am 
 ready." 
 
 " Baroness, there is plenty of time, the carriage 
 hasn't come yet, but here is a special letter for you." 
 Hildegarde was startled. A special letter, what had 
 happened ? 
 
 She opened the door, and took the letter from the 
 hand of the maid. EeCognizing her brother's hand- 
 writing, she felt a shock. 
 
 Aggravated, she threw the letter upon the table. 
 Without opening it she knew what it contained: a 
 request for money. She was filled with disgust. 
 " That he must spoil my pleasure. How can I ask 
 aunt for money on his behalf when she has just given 
 me ibis expensive dress?" All her happiness was 
 gone. She thought: " That letter shall not spoil my 
 
FIR8T-GLA88 MEN: 89 
 
 evening, I will read it to-morrow or to-night when I 
 come home." 
 
 But at last, she opened the enrelope and read: 
 "Dear little Hildegarde: 
 
 "You know the old joke of the night-watchman 
 who rouses a wife from her bed and calls to her: 
 ' Frau Meyer, don't get shocked, your husband is 
 dead.' So I say now: 'Dear Hiledgarde, don't get 
 startled, but I need four thousand marks.' I have 
 the devil's own luck. Yesterday morning I received a 
 heap of dunning letters. I don't know where the 
 people who suddenly ask me for money come from. 
 Where can I get it without stealing? I have tried 
 my luck with the cards. They also seem to be in a 
 conspiracy against me. When I woke up this morn- 
 ing with a headache I realized that I was in for it for 
 four thousand marks. Thank the Lord, they have 
 given me three days' grace, but by that time the 
 matter must be settled, or else nothing remains for me 
 but to put a bullet through my head. You know very 
 well, the other debts are not so pressing, but gambling 
 debts are debts of honor, and our honor must not be 
 tarnished. Eather than that, we have to take leave of 
 this world. Better dead than live without honor. As I 
 said before, I need four brown rags, and you have got 
 to get them for me. It will be so much easier this 
 time to ask you for this favor since I have learned 
 with genuine pleasure that you are about to become 
 engaged. It is high time after all, Hilda, for you 
 and for us. In fact during the last years you have 
 lost your looks considerably. The last time I saw 
 
90 FIRST-CLASS MEN 
 
 you, I felt shocked. Understand me; you are still 
 a pretty girl, but in comparison with former times? 
 The main thing is that this Winkler, or whatever his 
 name is, dotes on you. What sort of a fellow is he, 
 anyway? Aunt wrote to mamma that he is paying 
 furious court to you. You may imagine that they are 
 transported with joy at home. Papa wrote me 
 because of the good news he at once filled his 
 wine cellar a;nd drank a bottle of French champagne 
 to your health. The German champagne won't do any 
 more, the acid caused papa's stomach trouble. Aunt 
 reported that your future father-in-law manufactures 
 buttons. Horrible idea, is it really true? After all, 
 the main thing is that he has plenty of 'buttons.' 
 Keep him on the string. You still have beautiful eyes, 
 use them properly and you have got him- sure. When 
 you are engaged, which I hope will be within the next 
 few days, let the wedding follow quickly so that he 
 cannot back out nor find out how we count upon his 
 money. Once he is my brother-in-law, I'll draw his 
 ducats, never you fear. , 
 
 " Well, Hilda, enough of that for to-day. Service 
 calls me. The colonel has ordered a meeting of the 
 officers, the royal regulations about courts of honor 
 are to be read to us again. Nonsense ! As if we did not 
 know how to conduct ourselves as men of honor. The 
 man who doesn't feel the spirit within him will never 
 learn it by snoring more or less loudly, while those 
 endless orders are being communicated. Pray send 
 me the four mille. Uncle will give them to you at 
 once, if you tell him that the money will be refunded 
 
FIRST-CLASS MEN, 91 
 
 immediately after your wedding. One more thing I 
 want to tell you; have your marriage contract drawn 
 up before a notary, and insist on a considerable allow- 
 ance of pin money. In your place, I should not ac- 
 cept less than forty mille annually. Let him pay for 
 it, if he wants to marry into our respectable family. 
 By the way, things seem to go badly at home, in spite 
 of the French champagne, which papa obtained on 
 credit at the news of your coming engagement. Papa 
 wrote me I might send him a few thousand, or at 
 least a few hundred marks if I had a lucky stroke 
 at the gaming table. Oh, if the old man had any idea 
 of the predicament I am in ! Hilda, do your best, and 
 accept hearty gretings and kisses, from your faithful 
 brother, 
 
 " Peitz." 
 
 During the reading of these lines, the blood receded 
 from Hildegarde's face. She stood motionless, seized 
 with disgust, such as she often felt on receiving news 
 from home. She tore the letter into a thousand bits 
 and threw them to the floor. Then dropping into a 
 chair, she buried her face in her hands. "That they 
 are not ashamed to write to me thus," she cried. 
 "That they have the courage to look upon me as a 
 wanton selling herself to the highest bidder. How did 
 Fritz write : ' Let him pay for it, if he wants to marry 
 into our respectable family.' Eespeetable ! " She 
 laughed bitterly. " We are bankrupts and gamblers, \ 
 people with whom nobody would associate if we didn't 
 have a noble name. If a man wears a uniform and 
 
92 FmST-OL'ASS MENi 
 
 belongs to the nobility, he must be a roan of honor." 
 She started up as her aiint entered to see whether she 
 had finished her toilette. 
 " Hildegarde, how you look ! What has happened ? " 
 Hildegarde shrugged her shoulders in disdain. 
 " What has happened ? You see the torn letter, Fritz 
 has gambled again, he needs four thousand marks, 
 and I am to beg the money from you." With p. pas- 
 sion she could no longer control, she suddenly cried 
 out : " Aunt, how did you come to tell my people that 
 my engagement to Winkler is impending ? That was 
 wrong, more than wrong of you. The inevitable con- 
 sequences have followed. Both father and Fritz have 
 contracted debts upon debts on account of the future 
 son-in-law and brother-in-law. Let me tell you this. 
 Aunt, I do not know whether Winkler is in love with 
 me, I hardly believe it. But if he should love me and 
 ever propose to me, I know what I should do. I 
 should open his eyes, I should tell him when he asks 
 for ±y hand how I have been sent year after year to 
 the capital to catch a rich husband, how my relatives 
 count upon his money, how they think of his ' Buerg- 
 erlicher' name. I shall tell him all; for if I do not 
 love Winkler I respect and esteem him far too much 
 to betray him. He must see clearly, he must know 
 into what an honorable family he is going to marry. 
 I shall tell him all." 
 
 " You will do no such thing." Frau von Warnow 
 
 fh&i listened in consternation. It took her a long time 
 
 to compose herself. "You will not do it," she exclaimed 
 
 excitedly, " it is your duty to think not only of your 
 
FIR8T-CLAS8 Mm 93 
 
 own family, but of us as well. I will not reckon what we 
 have done for you. True, we are rich, but we should 
 not have spent thousands upon thousands npon you, 
 your parents and your brother, if we had not con- 
 sidered it as a matter of course that you would refund 
 the money later on. If you say you are going to tell 
 Winkler everything before the wedding, you are 
 simply utteting a stupidity. The few thousand marks 
 don't amount to anything for a man of his large 
 fortune, and he is shrewd enough to say to himself 
 that a young and beautiful woman like you takes a 
 ' Buergerlieher ' lieutenant solely for his money. If 
 you Confess everything to him in advance, you caution 
 him, as it were, not to marry you. What remains for 
 him then but to withdraw ? And what then ? " 
 
 Hildegarde shrugged her beautiful shoulders. 
 "What then? That's of no consequence to me. I 
 shall not starve, I told you before that 1 should look 
 for a position." 
 
 The aunt laughed derisively: *'You are Crazy! 
 What have you learned ? What can you do ? Do you 
 know anything about housekeeping or about cooking ? 
 You douldn't even go as a companion. Your music 
 is worse than indifferent, you cannot read to people, 
 your knowledge of foreign languages amounts to noth- 
 ing, how are you going to earn your bread ? " She had 
 spoken with cruel irony. But now, perceiving the 
 despondent expression in Hildegarde's face, pity pre- 
 vailed, and almost tenderly she put her arm around 
 Hildegarde's neck. " Don't be downcast, it will come 
 out better than you think. I understand and can feel 
 
94 FIRST-CLASS MEN 
 
 with you that Fritz's letter excited you. He doestft 
 mean any harm. To-morrow I am going to urge uncle 
 to send him the money. My husband must let him 
 have it as a present, or else I will do it. Now hold 
 your head high. It is time for us to go." 
 
 " Please go, Aunt, and let me stay at home. I am 
 not in the mood to go." 
 
 " Hildegarde," the aunt thought she had not heard 
 aright, " you want to stay at home ? That will never 
 do. You must not be missed at the reception to-day. 
 The Court has announced its intention to be present 
 Do you think I gave you this expensive new dress for 
 the purpose of hanging it up in your closet? What 
 am I to answer when people inquire for you ? " 
 
 A tired smile played around Hildegarde's mouth. 
 " They will not inquire for me. They will be glad 
 not to see me for once." 
 
 " And Winkler ? What am I to reply to him when 
 he asks for you ? " The girl looked at her aunt in 
 great astonishment. 
 
 "Don't you understand that it is on his account 
 I don't wish to go ? After the letter from Fritz, and 
 after what we said to each other just now, it would 
 be impossible for me to face him." Then she sud- 
 denly changed her mind. "No, you are right. I 
 had looked forward to this day with so much pleasure 
 that I am not going to have it spoiled at the last 
 moment." The aimt embraced her tenderly. 
 
 " That is right, my child; come now, the carriage is 
 waiting." 
 
 They drove to the embassy. They were rather 
 
FIRST-CLASS MEN 95 
 
 latej a great row of carriages was standing in front 
 of the gate, and it took a long time before their car- 
 riage could draw up. He'rr and Frau von Warnow 
 conversed with animation about the occupants of the 
 other carriages near them. They exchanged remarks 
 about the style of the various vehicles, and hazarded 
 guesses as to what personages of the Court would 
 appear. Hildegarde sat silent in her corner. In 
 reply to a question from her uncle, she com- 
 plained of headache, and Frau von Warnow made 
 her husband understand by a sign not to insist 
 further. She could think her own thoughts without 
 interruption. Why was it she had changed her mind 
 and gone to the rec^tion ? She had felt a strong de- 
 sire to meet George, to see a decent man for once, 
 and to speak with him. She did not know herself 
 how she was to set about it, but she was resolved to 
 tell him. Bestow your favor upon another who is 
 more worthy of you than I. Before allowing his 
 homage further, she would tell him of her family 
 and of her brother. If, after that, he continued to 
 treat her with marked attention and to woo her, she 
 would feel free from guilt towards him. She could 
 look into his eyes openly and frankly. 
 
 " Aren't you going to alight ? " 
 
 Hildegarde started. She had been sitting with her 
 eyes closed, without noticing that the door of the car- 
 riage had been opened. She followed the others, and 
 a quarter of an hour later, entered the reception rooms 
 where a brilliant assembly surged to and fro. There 
 was a steady greeting, an eternal handshaking. Ex- 
 
96 FIB8T-CLA88 MENi 
 
 peetantly, all eyes turned toward the entry. TKey 
 waited for the Court. Without confessing it to them- 
 selves, they were in feverish excitement as to whether 
 His Majesty would notice them, speak to them, -or 
 distinguish them by a handshake. Each expected such 
 distinction for himself, grudging it to the others ; each 
 hoped to be the only one in the room to be noticed by 
 the King. Gteorge stood by Hildegarde's side. She 
 had seen that he was seeking her, and she had hoped 
 to be able to avoid him. But her tall figure made it 
 easy for him not to lose sight of her. She feigned 
 surprise when he addressed her, but she read plainly 
 in his eyes that he had divined her feeling. He asked 
 without further preliminaries : " Do you feel oilended 
 with me for any reason. Baroness ? " 
 
 She looked at him openly and honestly. " No, Herr 
 Lieutenant." 
 
 His face brightened. " Then I am satisfied." 
 After a moment he continued : " You avoided me a 
 while ago. Is it disagreeable to you if I remain stand- 
 ing at your side ? " 
 
 Again her frank eyes met his. "Oh, no, Heir 
 Lieutenant." After some hesitation she added : " Will 
 you please take me to the table later on ? " What she 
 meant to say was : " I want to talk to you afterward." 
 But she could not bring herself to utter the words. 
 
 He bowed. "If we should lose each other in the 
 crowd, BaToness, let us meet again on this very spot. 
 Is that agreeable to you?" She nodded her assent, 
 and stepped back a little, for at this moment came the 
 announcement of the appearance of the Court. A 
 
FIB8T-CLASS MEN 97 
 
 mysterious linsh fell upon the crowd; the murmur of 
 voices died out; all looked upon His Majesty, who 
 had entered the hall and walked with a friendly smile 
 through the long rows of howing guests. Now and 
 then he would stop, exchanging a friendly word or a 
 handshake. Every one so distinguished was almost 
 devoured by the envious looks of the others. 
 
 Suddenly His Majesty stopped in front of George, 
 extending his hand graciously. " Ah, my dear Wink- 
 ler, how are you? I had an interesting report from 
 your father to-day, and I shall ask him in the near 
 future to make another report to me. You and your 
 father must dine with me." 
 
 George bent over to kiss the hand of his King, but 
 His Majesty had already seen Hildegarde, and greeted 
 her, too, with a friendly smile. " Do you still go on 
 turning the heads of my lieutenants, Baroness ? " he 
 asked jestingly. " It is easy for one as beautiful as 
 you are." And again smiling and nodding to her, 
 he proceeded on his course. In the hush which pre- 
 vailed, His Majesty's words were audible throughout 
 the whole room. AH eyes turned to Hildegarde and 
 George, who, pleased by the distinction they had re- 
 ceived through the King's address, were yet somewhat 
 embarrassed by the harmless royal jest. They stood 
 silent side by side, both of them relieved when life came 
 into the assembly, and the crowd began again to surge 
 and mingle. They became separated and saw each 
 other only when supper was served toward midnight. 
 As usual, small tables were set out, and George was 
 fortunate enough to find a table whose other occupants 
 
98 FIRST-CLASS MEN 
 
 were entire strangers to him. He could talk with 
 Hildegarde without being interrupted. However, they 
 were watched by the other people at their table. 
 Some of the ladies talked unreservedly about the 
 words addressed to Hildegarde by the King. One 
 thin, tall woman even stared at Hildegarde imper- 
 tinently through her lorgnette and remarked, quite 
 audibly : " I don't understand why His Majesty finds 
 the Praulein beautiful." 
 
 The Baroness cast an unconcerned glance upon the 
 speaker, and laughed aloud ; then turning to George : 
 " I can't tell you how glad I am of what the King 
 said to you. I am firmly convinced that you have 
 achieved with one stroke the position in society and 
 in the regiment which so far you have endeavored to 
 gain in vain." 
 
 He shrugged his shoulders. " Don't you believe it. 
 Baroness, I am afraid the gracious words have in- 
 jured me more than they have helped me. They will 
 grudge to me and to my father praise from such high 
 quarters. All that shall not spoil the pleasure I feel 
 because of the distinction accorded to my father. 
 Please do me a favor, and drink his health with me." 
 
 " Certainly, with pleasure." The glasses touched 
 with a clear, ringing sound. 
 
 "You must make my father's acquaintance. 
 Baroness," he went on, after a moment. " You would 
 like him, though the others here naturally don't. 
 They won't forgive him that he is not dressed in the 
 latest fashion and ties his own necktie. You would 
 like him. Perhaps it can be arranged that you make 
 
PIR8T-0LAS8 MUN 99 
 
 his acquaintance ihe next time he is here. I will 
 write him to bring my sister, to whom I have said so 
 much in my letters about you that she is anxious to 
 meet you." 
 
 She felt embarrassed. So he had written home 
 about her, perhaps even confessed that it was his 
 intention to ask her to be his wife. That awoke in her , 
 the recollection of her brother's letter. ' She must tell 
 him before it was too late. She would do it now. 
 Nobody paid any more attention to them. Only how 
 was she to put in words that which occupied her 
 thoughts ? Before he had told her that he loved her, 
 she could not very weU exclaim to him : " Give up all 
 thoughts of me, because on account of my family 
 I never can be yours." If she spoke to him without 
 apparent cause of the misery at home, would not 
 that cause him to think she expected help of some 
 kind from his father or himself ? She found no way 
 out. Another thing now occupied her. He had never 
 before told her of his sister. Astonishment seized her. 
 She said : " Herr Lieutenant, you have a sister ? You 
 never told me that before ? " 
 
 He looked at her wonderingly. " Did I not ? You 
 must not blame me for it, Baroness, for in your case 
 it certainly was not intentional." 
 
 " And why did you conceal it at all ? " she inquired 
 curiously. 
 
 George felt embarrassed and blushed like a child. 
 "I hardly know myself. Baroness. Perhaps it is 
 because one likes least to talk to others about things 
 nearest one's heart. If I "felt a desire to talk about 
 
100 FIBST-CLAS8 MEN, 
 
 bev, to whom could I speak ? In the regiment nobody 
 takes any interest in me, much less in my family, 
 and I do not like to speak without encouragement." 
 After an instant, he went on: "There is still an- 
 ^ other reason why I don't mention Elsa." 
 
 "What is it?" she asked. 
 
 " I don't know how to put my meaning into words. 
 I should not like to be suspected of speaking ill of 
 my comrades, neither should I like to pose as 
 a'n angel of light, which I am not and cannot very well 
 be at twenty-seven years of age. So much I can tell 
 you; my comrades have a way of talking at the 
 casino about young ladies in society which is revolting 
 to me. Jf 0, not revolting," he corrected himself, " I 
 always wonder and ask myself: 'Have those gentle- 
 men no sisters ? Because of their own mothers have 
 they no reverence and admiration for the other sex 
 that they should talk of it contemptuously as they 
 doP In my old regiment, it was different. Perhaps 
 we were not much better, but the smallness of the 
 place, the close relations entered into with the in- 
 dividual families, had the natural restdt that we 
 judged the young ladies with less freedom, less 
 frivolity. I remember how once a comrade took the 
 liberty of dropping an unseemly remark about one 
 of the ladies while we were at mess. The orderlies 
 were sent away, and the senior at table, an old eap- 
 tein, talked to the young lieutenant in- the presence 
 of all of us like a Dutch uncle." 
 
 " That is as it should be," Hildegarde interposed. 
 
 "Certainly," George assented, "yet I am all the 
 
FIRST-CLASS MEN. 101 
 
 more astonished that it is not so with us here. The 
 young ladies see in the lieutenant the highest ideal of 
 romance. They would blush with shame if they knew 
 how the gentlemen returning from a society affair or 
 during the next noon-day meal, talked about them. 
 The lieutenant would soon cease to be their ideal. Of 
 course, there are exceptions, but the greater number 
 of the comrades with us and in other regiments are 
 exactly what I said. To them woman is an object for 
 trade like a horse. Why is it that a young girl counts 
 for very little with the lieutenants, that they talk 
 of her without any trace of respect ? I have pondered 
 a great deal about it. Perhaps education is at the 
 bottom of it. Most of them grow up in military 
 surroundings, family life is unknown to them. They 
 see their sisters and their friends only during leave. 
 As cadets, they already strive to make conquests, and 
 every conquest achieved results in lowering young 
 girls in their eyes. Possibly the young ladies them- 
 selves are also at fault, for to them solely the lieu- 
 tenant exists in society, and the civilian counts only 
 if he is at least a reserve officer. The lieutenant 
 thinks of nothing but conquests, and victory is often 
 made too easy for him. I am not talking now of 
 myself, for I am a stranger here, but often enough I 
 hear my comrades tell of young ladies who make ad- 
 vances to them, send them love letters, won't wait till 
 they are asked for a meeting, but beg for permission 
 to meet them either at some place agreed upon or in 
 their own quarters." 
 
102 FIBST-CLA88 MEN. 
 
 "But, Herr Lieutenant," Hildegarde interposed 
 "surely no lady would do that." 
 
 " Certainly a lady ought not to do it," he assented, 
 " but it is done all the same. Look around among this 
 elegant company. How many of the women here 
 have not had their more or less tender liaison with a 
 lieutenant, not only the married women, oh no, but 
 the young girls who seem so chaste and modest, and 
 whose greatest pride for all that consists in having 
 a past, in spite of their youth ? " 
 
 Hildegarde knew that he was right. She remem- 
 bered distinctly how in former years when she was 
 more closely affiliated with the young girls of her 
 own age, almost every one of them had her lieutenant. 
 She had often talked to them about it, reproaching 
 them for their conduct, but each had made the same 
 answer : " Why shouldn't I do it when all the others 
 do it? What is the use of being young and beautiful? 
 Do you believe that our blood remains cool when 
 they pay court to us the whole evening, when they 
 press us to them during the dance, and look at us 
 with devouring glances? Are we to wait till we are 
 married? That may be a long while off, perhaps it 
 may never be, and what then? Are we to die with- 
 out having known the joys of love ? It's too stupid ! " 
 They would tell each other with cynical candor how 
 they managed to deceive their parents and to prevent 
 the possible consequences of their intercourse. Per- 
 haps Hildegarde was by nature too cold, too devoid 
 of passion, for she never comprehended her friends. 
 She could understand still less how the oflQcers could 
 
FIBST-CLA88 MEN 103 
 
 pose before the world as men of honor, and yet, with- 
 out the least compunction, enter into liaisons with the 
 wife or the daughter of the house they frequented, 
 and where they received only kindness. Once within 
 her experience an ofiBcer had coolly entered upon re- 
 lations with a young lady who was on the point of 
 becoming engaged to another. He looked calmly on 
 when his comrade married the young woman, who 
 had already passed through many hands, and, accord- 
 ing to common gossip, had made a conquest of every 
 man who took her fancy. ^"When I marry, I shall 
 have exactly my twelfth wedding trip," she said. Her 
 chums laughed to split their sides and envied her her 
 good fortune with the men. 
 
 For a long time Hildegarde and George sat in 
 silence side by side, each lost in thought. George 
 misunderstood Hildegarde's silence. He believed 
 her offended by his remarks, and he said : " I beg of 
 you not to be angry with me. Baroness, for speaking 
 so frankly to you.' We have been brought up in en- 
 tirely different conditions, and with entirely different 
 views." 
 
 She felt a blush rise to her cheeks. Grown up under 
 different conditions! It was her own merit only if 
 she was not like her friends, her own merit, and per- 
 haps that of her father and her brother, Who con- 
 tinually wrote to her : " Don't throw yourself away ; 
 enter into no liaison with any one, unless you are 
 sure that it will lead to marriage. Such a thing may 
 be discovered, and then your price will go down, and 
 all the hopes reposed in you will go to the devil." 
 
104 FIRST-CLASS MEN, 
 
 She had wondered, oh, so often, whether her brother 
 would be inconsolable if she wrote him some day: 
 "I have not found a husband, but a good friend, 
 whom. I have accepted as lover. If you will forgive 
 me, I will pay your debts." 
 
 She did not doubt for a moment that he would 
 take the money in order to remain an officer, to go 
 on playing the much envied and celebrated role of a 
 lieutenant in society. Disgust often seized her when 
 she thought of it — ^and yet— in that case would her 
 brother do anything that others had not done ? She 
 once had a ehiim who made no secret that she took 
 pay for her love. It was common gossip that the 
 brother knew of it and borrowed money of his sister 
 tegularly when she wrote him : " I took supper yes- 
 terday with a very rich gentleman." With the money 
 so earned by the sister, the lieutenant paid for his 
 champagne and played the high-toned cavalier in 
 society. 
 
 "Are ydli angry with me, Baroness?" he asked 
 again, as she still remained silent. 
 
 She roused hefrself from her mu'sings. "How 
 should I be ? " The subject had become painful to her 
 for her own sake. In order to change it, she inquired 
 about his.sister. Visibly pleased, he told her of Elsa, 
 how pretty she was, how good and kind, how they 
 had always been the best of friends, how they had 
 grown up as true comrades, how he had stepped into 
 the breach for her many times, how once she came 
 to his assistaiee with her tiny fists when he was about 
 getting worsted in a scrap with a school-fellow. He 
 
spoke in a loerry mood, Ws eyes beaming -yfith happi- 
 ness, and she listened attentively. 
 
 " Do you kftpw, I enyy yQ^ your sister ? " she asked, 
 " or, rather, I egyy you the tendeir relation between 
 you, Jjove betweeo Ijrpthef and sigter is something 
 very beautiful " 
 
 " Yes, but you, too, Basoaess, are happily situated 
 ia having a brother— ^-^" 
 
 "Please doa't talk abent that npw," There was 
 so much contempt and deprecation in her words that 
 he looked up in astoaighBient. 
 
 " But, Baroness, he is still your brother." 
 
 "You don't knew him. Please let us leave that 
 subject." 
 
 " As you wi0h,'' 
 
 In 'his embarrassment he emptied his glass and 
 groped in yain for another subject o| conversation. 
 Both felt relieved when the company rose from the 
 table. The ball kept those present till the early moruf 
 ing. During ihs dance George did pot lose sight of 
 Hildegarde. He bad the pleasure of iutroducipg to 
 her some officers from other regiments and new part-? 
 ners, and felt almost happier than she herself over 
 the success she achieved this evening. It was late 
 when the gathering broke up. George had not suc- 
 ceeded in taking leave of Hildegarde. Bather disr 
 gruntled, be walked with a comrade toward his own 
 quarters. His comrade must have been preoccupied 
 with a very interesting idea, for suddenly be stopped 
 and gejzed George's arm. " Will you bet that he will 
 
106 FIBST-CLAS8 MEN 
 
 get her after all? That would certainly be an uncom- 
 mon piece of luck." 
 
 George looked at the other in surprise. " I don't 
 understand you; of whom are you speaking ? " 
 
 " Oh, come to think of it, you don't know Gastrow 
 of the Hussars very well. Donnerwetter, he paid 
 court to-night to Praulein von Eeisinger again. She 
 is no longer young. She never was good-looking. 
 The family is of the oldest Jewish nobility. The 
 mother, I believe, is a bom Moses. That doesn't 
 matter in the least; she has got money, a horrible lot 
 of money. If Gastrow really catches her, he's in 
 fine trim ; he needs it badly, for he is said to be broke. 
 He owes two hundred thousand at least." George 
 had listened without much interest. 'Now he asked : 
 
 "Isn't it shocking that we lieutenants — present 
 company excepted — p,lways let reason speak when 
 selecting a wife? We live merry lives, we squander 
 our money atid our health, and when we reach the 
 end of our rope, we look around at balls for some 
 rich young girl to set us afloat again. The more 
 money she has, the more we are after her. How few 
 marry to-day with only the fortune required by the 
 regulations." 
 
 " That's sheer nonsense ; who can live on the few 
 poor pennies ? " 
 
 " Agreed, although many achieve the task. Look- 
 ing at it from a psychological point of view, is it not 
 an interesting fact that a lieutenant almost invariably 
 falls in love with a young girl who is rich and like- 
 wise very ugly? Yet nobody will admit having mar- 
 
FIB8T-0LA88 MEN. 107 
 
 ried solely for money. It is insulting and dishon- 
 orable even to think of such a thing. On the con- 
 trary, each fancies himself to be actually in love 
 with his wife in spite of her ugliness and her bad 
 qualities. If she had no money, naturally he wouldn't 
 even look at her. Speaking candidly, I can't under- 
 stand rich parents marrying their child to an officer. 
 Those people must realize full well that their daugh- 
 ter is married for her money only. Still less do I 
 understand the young ladies themselves. How can 
 they be foolish enough to imagine that they were 
 married for love ? " 
 
 " With your permission," the other spoke up, " you 
 advance queer views. According to your opinion, 
 young ladies possessed of wealth shouldn't marry at 
 all." 
 
 " Pardon, I did not say that. They should marry 
 whom they please, but no lieutenant, because in nine 
 hundred and ninety-nine cases out of a thousand he 
 wouldn't think of marriage until he is in debt up to 
 his neck." 
 
 "It is easy for you to talk so," the other replied. 
 " It is easy for a born millionaire to condemn the 
 doings of a poor devil. What you say is beautiful and 
 noble in theory, but how about the practice ? If ever 
 I marry I would rather ride in my own carriage than 
 in the electric car. Well, here our ways part. You 
 go to the right, I to the left. When do you go on 
 duty to-morrow ? " 
 
 " Not during the forenoon." 
 
lOS FIB8T-CLAS8 MBIN 
 
 "You are fojiimate. J have instrTiction Rt seven 
 o'clock. QppdTBiglit." 
 
 After shaking hajids, they parted, and a, few min^ 
 ntes later (Jeorge reached his quarters. 
 
TI; 
 
 It had all eotne to pass as Gfedrge had foteseen. 
 TI16 friendly words spokeh by His Majesty at the 
 embassy, the warm recognition giveri. to his father, 
 had not Contributed to improve his position in the 
 teginifeht; they ohly made thiilgs worse. Hardly a 
 day passed when George was ndt disetlssed during his 
 absence, and when the utterance of His Majesty was 
 hot considered. What induced the King so to dis- 
 tinguish the Only " Buergerlicher " officer in the regi- 
 ment? Even the eommander had to conte'nt himself 
 With a handshake^ "The rCniainiiig oiBeers of the 
 stafl> not to speak of the rest, hardly feceited a 
 friendly glance j George was the ohljf one addressed. 
 Was that dccidfental? Was it rea,lly only the report 
 of the manufacturer of breeches' buttohs— ^as they 
 called old Winkler — ^that induced the faror? What 
 Could such a manufacturer report to the King th^t 
 the latter did not know? TruBy old Winkler waS 
 said to be unique as to behef oleht institutiohs for his 
 Workers, in his efforts for their material welfkre, in 
 his discovery of new ways and ineans to edse the ex- 
 istehce of his employees. Evei-ybddy kne'w hoiv deep 
 Was His Maje^y's interest in the condition of the 
 working classes, but for all that the public praisC 
 bestowed upon old Winkler Seemed a little too artifi- 
 eial, if it was permitted to dfSScer^ and loyal subjects 
 
110 FIB8T-0LAS8 MEN, 
 
 to criticise His Majesty's words at all. Or was there 
 another purpose at the bottom of His Majesty's re- 
 marks? The King certainly knew how the regiment 
 felt about George, how he remained a stranger among 
 them and always would. Were His Majesty's words 
 a hint to them, " Don't trouble yourselves, you will 
 not get rid of Winkler. In me he has a mighty pro- 
 tector." Did he wish to encourage George himself 
 by his gracious words to go on enduring, not to lose 
 heart, though he had not succeeded so far in creating 
 a position for himself? 
 
 Not a single Yellow Butterfly had ever been ordered 
 to attend Court except on occasion of a great festivity. 
 Then they would appear in a body, and would be 
 proud of the distinction. Now the King had asked 
 George publicly to eat with him, together with his 
 father. It was known that His Majesty sometimes 
 arranged such little informal affairs, where a lively 
 exchange of ideas took place, when the King would 
 astonish all by his surprising knowledge, when he 
 would charm everybody by his great personal amiabil- 
 ity. How did George come to participate in one of 
 these intimate evenings? As the son of his father? 
 Who and what was his father ? A " Buergerlicher " 
 manufacturer of breeches' buttons. That he was, 
 and that he remained, even if he was wiser and more 
 important than all the sages put together. They 
 would not have envied the royal favor shown to 
 George to any other comrade. They would have con- 
 sidered it as a mark of distinction for the noble caste 
 to which they belonged. But they grudged it to 
 
PIBST-CLASS MEN. Ill 
 
 George because they considered, "If the 'Buerger- 
 licher' class is so noticed and protected, what then 
 remains for the nobility, which has done and is still 
 doing, and will do in the future, for Germany, more 
 than to manufacture breeches' buttons that have only 
 the merit of cheapness and durability ? " 
 
 The sentiment prevailed that His Majesty meant to 
 say: "Do what you like, you will not get rid of 
 Winkler." 
 
 So far they had only taken pains to ignore Winkler. 
 Now they watched him, and while George remained 
 always calm and modest towards his comrades, they 
 began to show more superciliousness toward him than 
 before. More than ever they flaunted their nobility 
 and endeavored to show him what an insurmountable 
 chasm separated them. Without saying so, they 
 acted with a common purpose: "We will frighten 
 him away; some day he must realize himself that he 
 cannot stay with us." George thoroughly understood 
 the sentiment toward him. Had he been able to de- 
 ceive himself about it, his eyes would have been 
 opened by one thing. Once every week little Willberg, 
 with a contemptuous manner, offered him a formal 
 excuse for not being able yet to pay back the loan of 
 a thousand marks made to him in such a friendly 
 way. 
 
 " I really don't need the money," George would re- 
 ply. " On the contrary, my modest mode of life 
 enables me to lay up savings, so that I could willingly 
 help you out with another amount. There is no 
 hurry about refunding." 
 
George nbticefl ihd little Willbsrg would Hare beda 
 biiljf too glad to &edept thb ft&sietaiieB thus oflefed. It 
 iVaS an d|)eii sedret that te Wdtlldfi't bfe able to hold 
 otlt mlidh Idhgeib: Mobody ebiild qiiite linderstana 
 wHiit befiaffie of hia hadney. fie gairtbled no more 
 than the rest, bltt |Je(Mbiy Wdaiefi cost hiitt a good 
 dfeatl. Almost eVery tWb Veek^ he hdd a mvt Uaiibn. 
 If d; pretty ybilhg girl erdsfeed hi^ ^ay He would 
 not rest until he had made a conquest of hef, cori- 
 sideribg neither trbbble iior expensgi Bilt after he 
 had been with hef thfed timeBy hei skidj she Had nb 
 more attractibn for hiiii, add he would sever their 
 brief relatibiis Vitl almost bruta.1 Gmelty. No en- 
 tredtie^ and ho tears ■froUld lead hifn back to the doe 
 he h^a left. He Woiild not fetnembet promises madBj 
 and no power dn earih tiould influde him to render 
 the least feid tb A foriller fdvbrite, eten if she was in 
 the greatest distress Qr ih the most horrible miseryi 
 He WAS the most oUtspokeh egotist of love imagiaablej 
 Mofe thad bUe cdttirade in the tegiment thought his 
 eonduet Hot quite Sorreet, not quite g^ntlenlanlikej 
 bilt, after fell, his affairs only eoniJemed sd^oalled 
 •" little girls," whtt had to put up with the treatment 
 they received. It wA§ iheif 0t(fn fatilt if they. had 
 ariythihg to db with him. 
 
 He had Ho luck with decent women. It was his 
 gfeitefet chagrin iidt t0 haVe had a sihglb miitfess 
 Whorb. he didn't haVB to pay. But he had ^bssessed 
 ail oi the pUrfchasable datues. That flattered his 
 vinity somewhat, if f ot flo dther reason than becahse 
 in the eyes of the young girlg ©f mmiy it gave hiai 
 
Fik§T-dLA8B MSM lis 
 
 a particular air always tO havfe A new itiietfeis. H^ 
 kneW ttat his rfeptLtation made hiM intei-esting id the 
 youiig ladies. He kliew iv'ell that, in spite of his 
 fepiitaiioh, or fdthef bedanse of it, it wOtild he easy 
 for hiiix to niakt! a ridh hiatch wheti he wished; The 
 bride who succeeded in catching hihi WOuld be envied 
 and thouglit fortunate. He ihtended to iiiarf jr, but 
 his wife must have money, plentjr of mohey, for he 
 - did not cohteHipMte ch^hgihg his inOde of life as a 
 hustjaiid. Then h^ would be able to spdhd for Women 
 thousands upon thousands, and not be Obliged^ as he 
 was now, to count with miseraljle hundred mdrks, if 
 he counted kt all. He hkd ho conception of money 
 or its value, if he had succeeded iti bbfirewihg a 
 few ihoiisahd inarks of a relative, he coiild hot rest 
 until he spent them. He wks kl^irayS ih debt, and 
 jlist nOw ihiUgs were veiry bad With hitti. He b&m- 
 piained tofatiiiualljr abOiit hRtd times, and df khk nioire 
 heavily than usilal in ofder to drown his eares: He 
 borrowed of everybody in the regiment, ftnd GeOi-ge 
 foresaw that it Wotild hot be long before he vi^ould 
 borrow again df hiih without tefilnding hiS eld debt. 
 That moment came 66onef than Ci-eorge eip^cted. 
 
 One day lie left the Cafeiho to go to hiS qilarters 
 earlier tiian lidual. He had deceived a leittef ftoih 
 his little tiiBAi Olga, a yoiihg acti/ess of tixi EeSidellz- 
 theater, whom he had known for some time. She 
 wrote siie wa^ going to join him at SUplifei'; At first 
 he tkouglit of sending hei- irorQ. hot tc coriigj beCalise 
 he hd,d ihi|)6rl;knt iVol-k on hahd ; but fihally he Wired 
 ker: "Gome, t eipect you.*' H^ did Haii hkvB the 
 
114 FIRST-CLASS MEN: 
 
 heart to spoil the evening for her. She clung to him 
 with hearty afEection. She felt at ease in his elegant 
 and comfortable rooms. She said she knew nothing 
 pleasanter than to admire his belongings and to rum- 
 mage ill his library. They sat down at the neatly-cov- 
 ered table in the little dining-room, facing each other. 
 George looked at her, smiling, as she enjoyed the 
 oysters and the Pommery. 
 
 " You may laugh," she said, " you have just come 
 from dinner; but I haven't eaten .anything since three 
 o'clock this afternoon." 
 
 " Eat, my child ; it gives me pleasure to see you 
 ■enjoy it. The more you eat, the more it pleases me. 
 If you are through with these oysters, there is another 
 dozen on ice for you, and afterward there, will be 
 your favorite dish, stuffed artichokes." 
 
 She clapped her hands joyously like a child. Then 
 she looked at him gratefully with her great dark 
 brown eyes, and stroked his hand tenderly: "How 
 kind and good you are." 
 
 " Olga ! " He was almost embarrassed at the warm 
 tone of her voice. He tried to jest : " Don't be ridicu- 
 lous, Olga. If all my goodness toward you consists 
 in getting my housekeeper to cook for you what you 
 like to eat, it doesn't amount to much," and after 
 an instant he added : " I am very fond of you, little 
 Olga." 
 
 She looked at him with happy eyes. "Eeally?" 
 And when he,nodded to her and drank her health, 
 she said: "Do you know, I believe it of you, nay, 
 what is more, I know that you love me, that I am 
 
FIB8T-GLA88 MEN: 115 
 
 more to you than merely a little girl that comes to you 
 in the evening and leaves you in the morning. There- 
 fore I am immensely grateful to you; you can't im- 
 agine how much." 
 
 Suddenly she jumped up, nestled closely to him, 
 kissing him passionately. 
 
 "But, Olga, child, your oysters are getting stale," 
 he admonished her, since she wouldn't stop her 
 caresses. Then she released him, laughing, and sat 
 down again. 
 
 Olga was pretty as a picture, supple and of medium 
 height, of faultless figure, with an intelligent face, 
 wonderful brown eyes and a ravishing .little nose. 
 Everything about her was pretty. She had small, 
 well-kept hands and a charming foot. Her whole 
 demeanor was as sympathetic as her exterior. She 
 might not be what you would call intellectual, but 
 she was amusing and cheerful; one could talk with her 
 for hours without being bored. She could talk enter- 
 tainingly and appreciated a good joke. She would 
 laugh so heartily that tears came to her eyes, and 
 when she laughed her pearl-white teeth showed to 
 advantage. One thing especially made her attractive 
 to George: her candor. She made no secret of the 
 fact that she had had other friends before and that 
 she might have others later on. " I know, George," 
 she said once, "the hour will come when we shall 
 have to part. Our friendship will not last forever, 
 and it may be good that it shoujld not. When 
 some day you tell me : ' Darling, this won't do any 
 longer,' I shall go, and you may be sure that, even 
 
116 fIMt^&laM MS% 
 
 if my heaft is ef ef so seld, I shall not mhM a le^flfe in 
 ydllf prSS^fiee,- bixi I sMU kiss you tod t-Mank you 
 for all the beautif ill tdlif § we have eiijoy^d tdgetfi§r/' 
 
 George knew she meant what she said, tod t^roiild aet 
 aedtodinglyi Glga was the ideal of a mistress, alt^^ays 
 cheerful, always in serene nlGod, never Cfttstyii never 
 demanding. OilCe only had shd eipfessdd. a wish. 
 ¥6r flays George had nbtiefefl that soitiethiflg W&b Oh 
 her mind.- Oiliy aftfer he had Urged hef long did ehe 
 tell him. 
 
 "You must iurii out the light first, else 1 am 
 ashamed to tell you; you must hot look at me while I 
 tell." 
 
 He lahghecl and did as she Wished, arid tHgfi she 
 ofrhedi " 1 shbiiid like a little ^old watch;" 
 
 'W'h^iii he kept silence, asttthished at the fflbflesiy 
 of her tequest, she -sSrent oil: "Please don't be angry 
 with liie j I ea^*- a w'eiiderf illy prettjr Watch in & show- 
 window. Its price was iriarked at d huridted iriarfcs; 
 if that seems too hiiieh for ytiu,- a cheaper tihe will 
 do=" 
 
 When he tad granted hei* wish, and bought fdi hei: 
 ah expelisife watch, #ith a gdld chaih,- sh§ sat With 
 hihi the wMle evSiiihg wittiout showing the least in- 
 teres-fc ifl hihi,- Wi; playing witk het watch, laughing 
 and ei'ying With pleasure. At first she had been un- 
 wiliing to accept anything ftoin hind. They had 
 c(tla]rtelled about it. She only peritiitted hiiii tct make 
 her an allowance Wheii he told hel-, with firthness atid 
 de&SiOnj that otlierWise their relations itiiist Boiiie to 
 ah. end.- He paid fOf hei* toOihs tod fbl^ everything 
 
FIBaT-0LA8S MM W 
 
 she needed without spoiling her. He insisted Sov Jus 
 own sake that she should be well qared for. Without 
 her knowing it, he had started a savings hank hook for 
 her, paying in regularly eyery week a, few hundred 
 marks to her credit. '' She should not he ohUged to 
 throw herself into the arms of the first comer when 
 once we part," he said to hipiself. 
 
 He had gone to the b^nk and made a deposit for 
 her toj'day, and on the way back he had bought her a 
 pretty brooch, as he mo-^ remembered. 
 
 " Olga, I forgot; see, I have here a trifle for you," 
 
 He rose and fetched the little box. He was pleased 
 at the happy faee with which she eyed the jewelry, 
 
 " George, it is really wrong' of you to give me 
 such presents,'^ she scolded. 
 
 " Oh, never mind,'' he jjegged. " I don't give you 
 any more than I can afford. Like all my presents, 
 this is already paid for." 
 
 She thanked him again, with sincerity, and said: 
 "Do you know, I am to be envied for having 
 made your aequair^tanee ? Understand me,'' she cor- 
 rected herself; "you Ictoow well enough that I want 
 nothing of you and ask nothing of you. I did it 
 once about the watch, and was terribly ashamed of it 
 afterward. If I had surmised yon would spend such 
 a horrible amount of money for me I should never 
 have spoken, because I do not wish you to think for 
 a sii^gle moment th9,t I am nice to you and love you 
 because you are rich." 
 
 *•! know all that without your telling me. But 
 
118 FIB8T-CLA-88 MEN 
 
 you were going to tell me why you were to be envied 
 for your acquaintance with me." 
 
 "Because you are such a decent fellow, because — 
 how can I express it? Bach of my chums at the 
 theatre has a friend and admirer. But what sort of 
 people are they? Men about town in the worst 
 sense of the word, living riotously, contracting debt 
 after debt. If they make presents, they never pay 
 for them. All they give they get on credit, and it 
 spoils the pleasure for the recipient. With you every- 
 thing is so decent, so solid. Your life is exactly like 
 your character; one feels that one can rely upon 
 you, that you are a thoroughly serious and trust- 
 worthy man." 
 
 George felt embarrassed. " Olga, Olga, declara- 
 tions of love after such long acquaintance ! " 
 
 " They are in order," she replied, and added, a lit- 
 tle embarrassed: "It is exactly three months to-day 
 since we met for the first time." 
 
 " Do you regret it ? " 
 
 She kissed his hand. "You — you — I am so aw- 
 fully fond of you. Why should I regret it ?" Growing 
 serious she went on: "You know I have told you 
 before how a scoundrel of a lieutenant invited me to 
 supper, made me drunk, and then betrayed me. When 
 I found myself alone in the cab in front of my house 
 without knowing how I came there, and without sus- 
 pecting what had happened to me, I vowed to myself 
 to remain a good girl henceforth, never again to 
 have anything to do with a man. For a whole year 
 I remained steadfast to my vow and lived on my 
 
FIBST-CLA88 MEN 119 
 
 seventy-five marks wages. Then there came one man 
 whom I liked, and who was very kind and good to 
 me. Oh, it is so hard to remain respectable at a 
 theatre. We, the small fry, envy the stars, who are 
 dressed in silk and velvet, who perhaps have no more 
 ability than we, and who occupy the high places 
 only because they have a rich friend who pays for 
 their gowns and uses his influence with the manager 
 to get the girl promoted and entrusted with prominent 
 parts. That's the way it comes about. The others 
 do it, too, not only theatrical people. We are not 
 really the worst. The others who do it in secret and 
 pose as respectable girls are surely no better." 
 
 " Olga, empty your glass, and don't be downcast ; 
 be cheerful and merry." 
 
 After a brief struggle with herself her sunny na- 
 ture ga.ined the upper hand. " You are right ; I 
 can't undo what has happened. The lieutenant was 
 a scoundrel all the same. I told you before that he 
 committed suicide. That's the best he could do." 
 
 " Don't be so hard on him, Olga," observed George. 
 
 " Please don't defend him," she burst out angrily. 
 " I know you think if a young girl accepts a lieuten- 
 ant's invitation to supper she must realize beforehand 
 what she has to expect. But I was young and in- 
 experienced. I can still show you the letter he wrote 
 to me : 'I give you my word of honor as an oflBcer 
 and gentleman I will not touch you; I will not take 
 any liberties you woii't permit. I will only kiss your 
 eyes, your eyes iJiat have captivated me.' Instead of 
 keeping his word, he made me drunk, so I could 
 
130 PIB8T-0LAS8 MEN 
 
 oflsp Wm no resistance. After all/' she went on, with 
 bitterness, "tber© are very fine birds among those 
 offieers," 
 
 " I ean't understand you to-day, Olga- Why is it 
 that you speak so disparagingly of the lieutenants? 
 Am J not one of them ? '' 
 
 '* Qh, you,-' she said, tenderly, '' in a sense you 
 doq't belong to them, you are far too decent. You 
 are a man, but the others are sperciUous monkeys, 
 and Uari and deceivers -to boot." 
 
 '* Olga, I beg of yeu in all seriousness not to talk 
 in that way. I can't understand what possesses you." 
 
 She shrank before the angry look in his eyes. 
 " Pon't be harsh with roe," sfee begged, ^' I will tell 
 you why I think so ill of the ofiieers to-day. You 
 know Lillie ? ■■ 
 
 George thought for a moment- ''Lillie? Yes, 
 your soubrette, certainly I know her. Didn't the 
 three of us take supper together one evening? How 
 is she ? • ' 
 
 " How is she ? She is siefc." 
 
 Her words betrayed so much bitterness that he 
 looked at hep in astonishment. '^You speak in a 
 peculiar way. What ails her ? " 
 
 Olga was embarrassed. ^' Oh, I ean tell it to you," 
 she said at last. ** You know the Preiherr von Gasr. 
 trow of the Hussars, don't you ? He was after Lillie 
 for three months, threw her flowers, made her presr 
 ents, wrote her letters, in short did everything lie 
 could to make conquest of hep. You know, alsoj that 
 Lillie is not so very strict. She likes to enJQy Hfe. 
 
FIBST-CLASS MEN 121 
 
 But she would not accept the Hussar because she 
 had been cautioned against him. She liad been in- 
 formed he was diseased — you understand ? " 
 
 " Certainly— and then?" 
 
 " LUUe told the Hussar what she had heard about 
 him, and said that was the reason why she refused 
 to associate with him. The lioble Preiherr gave her 
 his word of honor it was all a calumny ; he had been 
 diseased once, like any other lieutenant, but was now 
 well and healthy. Thereupon Lillie consented to 
 associate with him. What was the upshot? She is 
 ill; he has infected her. The worst Of it is, the 
 Hussar knew full well his own condition. He simply 
 lied in the most contemptible manner in order to get 
 LiUie." 
 
 " Is that actually true ? " 
 
 " Certainly it is. Gastrow himself admitted it to 
 LillLe when' she threatened him with a lawsuit. He 
 gave her five thousand marks that she might go to a 
 health resort, and he promised her another five thou- 
 sand marks next year in case she should then be 
 without an engagement. For the present she cannot 
 appear on the stage. Lillie did not know at first 
 what her trouble was. She had no idea she was dis- 
 eased, because the Hussar had pledged his word of 
 honor. Now she is in such a condition that the 
 other members of the company refuse to play in the 
 same cast with her." 
 
 George listened in silence. He was disgusted at 
 this behavior in a comrade whom he had only re- 
 cently met at an entertainment where he had paid 
 
133 FIB8T-CLA88 MEE 
 
 such furious court to Fraulein von Eeisinger that 
 another comrade offered a wager about their mar- 
 riage. He had no words to condemn the behavior of 
 the Hussar toward the actress. He was still more in- 
 dignant that the lieutenant should dare to seek the 
 hand of a young lady, in spite of his condition. Did 
 he really intend to marry her ? Was he unscrupulous 
 enough to take a wife in order to free himself from 
 his debts? Did he not consider the awful conse- 
 quences he would call down upon his wife, perhaps 
 upon his children ? ' 
 
 "What do you say, George? Do you take the 
 part of the officers now ? " 
 
 "My child, heretofore you were always just," he 
 remonstrated. "You must not jump to hasty con- 
 clusions from the actions of an individual and con- 
 demn a whole class. In every class there are some 
 who do not act as they ought." 
 
 " True enough," she assented, " but since we are 
 talking about this horrid matter, let me ask how it is 
 that almost all of us who are diseased owe our ailment 
 to association with officers? We don't hear or know 
 much about our ballet girls, but we do hear that 
 there are cases of disease among them, and in almost 
 every case some lieuteiiant is the cause of it." After 
 a short pause, she added, blushing scarlet : " Do you 
 know, at that time — I mean the first time — I became 
 ill myself?" 
 
 George's fist struck the table with a resounding 
 blow. " That is not true. He could not have been 
 as contemptible as that." 
 
FIB8T-CLAS8 MEN 123 
 
 " But he was ! It cannot have been so very bad, for 
 after three months I regained my full health and 
 nothing remained of my disease. So I was told by 
 many physieialis. I did not rest contented with the 
 assurance of one only." 
 
 George buried his face in his hands. " That men 
 should not be ashamed to act so dishonorably," he 
 groaned. " Such — " he tried in vain to find a word 
 strong enough to characterize the other's action. 
 
 Olga drew near and caressed him. "Don't be 
 angry," she begged, " I ought not to have told you. 
 I have always kept silence about it, but somehow to- 
 day, talking about these things, it escaped me. Don't 
 be angry with me." 
 
 He kissed her tenderly on the forehead. "Why 
 should I be angry with you? Come, let us forget 
 these unpleasant stories. We can't change the world. 
 We have not met to have our evening spoiled by the 
 faults of other people." 
 
 She succeeded in smoothing out the angry lines 
 tfn his forehead, and they sat talking till the coffee 
 and cigars were served. 
 
 " Shall we stay here or go to the sitting-room ?" he 
 asked. 
 
 " Let's go," she begged. She was fond of the large, 
 beautiful room, with its superb carpets, heavy por- 
 tieres and wonderful pictures. Most of all she liked 
 the large, comfortable leather arm-chairs in front of 
 the chimney. Every time she visited George she in- 
 tended to ask him to let her sit in one of those chairs 
 after supper. Somehow she had always stopped at 
 
134 FIB8T-0LA88 MENi 
 
 the intention. To-day they had hardly entered the 
 sitting-room when he led her to the large chaise- 
 longue, pushed a cushion under her head, and covered 
 her up with a large polar-bear skin. That was his 
 habit with her. He treated her with so much love 
 and tender regard that she did not have the courage 
 in the face of so much kindness to tell him how un- 
 comfortable she found that position. 
 
 " Are you comfortable, darling ? " 
 
 Even now she lied for his sake. " Simply heav- 
 enly." 
 
 He kissed her tenderly, then lighted a cigarette for 
 her, took a cigar himself, and sat down on a chair 
 by her side. 
 
 "How charming your quarters are, George; you 
 have no idea how happy I feel with you." 
 
 " Only in my quarters, or with me personally ? " 
 
 "Only in your quarters," she teased him; "why 
 Sihould I be pleased with you ? You are an old bear, 
 who does not deserve that I should spoil him and be 
 so nice to him. Oh, you dear, stupid fellow, come 
 and give me a kiss. Now be good again, and sit 
 down like a good boy in your chair and tell me what 
 you have been doing during the last few days. What 
 society affairs did you attend, with whom did you 
 dance, to whom did you pay court ? " 
 
 George told her at length. She showed a genuine 
 interest in everything concerning him. He knew 
 he could trust her absolutely; he knew that in the 
 future, when their intercourse should have come to 
 an end, she would never make use of what he told 
 
FIR8T-CLA88 MEN 135 
 
 her now. So he had no secrets from her. He told 
 her about the regiment, about his parents and his 
 sister, but, strangely enough, not a word about Hilde- 
 garde. He had never mentioned that name before 
 her, and kept silent about it to-day. Not that he 
 was afraid Olga might in a way be jealous. She was 
 far too sensible and too intelligent. More than once 
 she had told him how she wished him a lovely bride. 
 A sensation he could not explain to himself prevented 
 him from talking to her about Hildegarde. 
 
 Olga listened attentively. Many of the grand 
 people whose names were mentioned she knew from 
 his former explanations. By the questions she inter- 
 posed, it became plain that she listened with real 
 interest. Naturally she was most concerned to hear 
 details about the gowns worn by the ladies. This 
 question he was always unable to answer. 
 
 "How can you be so silly as not to remember 
 that ? " she scolded. " The most interesting thing in 
 a woman is what she wears." 
 
 " Or what she doesn't wear," he teased. " For in- 
 stance, in your_case, I don't care so much for your 
 long and horrible dresses as I do for your beautiful 
 neck, for your pretty little feet, and so forth." 
 
 She gave him a love-tap. " Will you be good 1 It 
 is not half -past nine yet, and you know well you must 
 always behave until ten o'clock." 
 
 " Alas, alas," he murmured. 
 
 " You know he who endures will be rewarded." 
 
 She looked at him warmly, and he tried to fold 
 her tenderly in his arms. She repulsed him gently. 
 
126 FIRST-GLASS MEN. 
 
 " Please — ^not now — Plater on — ^let us talk together 
 for a while yet." 
 
 She gave him detailed instructions about the mate- 
 rial, the cut, and the finishings of women's gowns, 
 so that he might be able to give her more correct in- 
 formation about the dresses of society girls in the fu- 
 ture. The lesson, as she called it, was brought to a 
 close by the entrance of a servant. 
 
 " A letter has just arrived for the Lieutenant." 
 
 " Answer required ? " 
 
 " The orderly didn't say ; he has gone away." 
 
 "All right." 
 
 The servant left, and George held the letter for 
 a while in his right hand without opening it. 
 
 " Prom whom is it ? " Olga inquired. 
 
 "I have no idea, but I have a vague notion this 
 letter contains nothing agreeable for me." 
 
 " Do you want me to read it for you ? If I think 
 the contents would vex you, I could tear up the 
 sheet and never tell you what it contained." 
 
 He kissed her hand. " You are a dear, good child, 
 but that won't do. Kow, let us see." 
 
 He opened the envelope with a paper-knife, spread 
 out the sheet and looked at the signature. A faint, 
 triumphant smile played around his mouth. " Oh, I 
 see, Willberg — after all." 
 
 Olga had raised herself a little, and, resting her 
 head upon her right hand, she now looked at him 
 eagerly- "Willberg! what does he want with you? 
 Pidn't you tell me of his queer behavior toward you ? 
 How does he happen to write to you now ? " 
 
FIB8T-CLAS8 MEN 127 
 
 Instead of an answer he handed her the letter. 
 Olga read: 
 
 " Very Esteemed Comrade : 
 
 " Though I am still deep in your debt, and though 
 to-day I am less able than I was a few weeks ago to 
 fix the date for the refunding of the amount I owe 
 you, I feel myself constrained to beg again for help, 
 and for quick and immediate help at that. We gambled 
 horribly this afternoon. I am in for it with five 
 milles, four with the Uhlan, with whom I tried to get 
 even for the last encounter. This four mille must be 
 paid by noon to-morrow, or else I am done for. I 
 do not 'know where to get the money. You are my 
 only salvation. You have offered me your assistance 
 so often that I am sure you will not leave me in the 
 lurch now. It is to be regretted that my orderly 
 cannot wait for an answer. He has to go to my little 
 girl to tell her she need not expect me to-day, for, the 
 Lord knows, I am not in the mood for amorous ad- 
 ventures. 
 
 " Perhaps you will have the goodness to send me 
 the ducats this very evening, either through your ser- 
 vant Fritz, or through your orderly, or through some 
 other male creature. I shall stay at home waiting 
 for your decision, and thank you cordially in advance 
 that you will help me out this time. 
 
 " With best regards, I remain, as always, 
 " Your devoted 
 " Freihber von Willbeeg." 
 
 Olga folded the sheet and handed it back. 
 
128 FIB8T- CLASS MEN, 
 
 "What do you say to it?" 
 
 " I find the letter classic," she said, " brief, blunt 
 and childishly naive: 'I have gambled, please pay 
 my debts.' The man writes with nonchalance, as if 
 he were inquiring whether you would drink a glass of 
 beer with him- Willberg is simply heavenly." 
 
 . " Ton are not so wrong aboijt it," said George, 
 whom the tone of the letter offended somewhat. 
 Such a young lieutenant, who can't call anything 
 in the world his own, except an allowance of a few 
 hundred marks, sits- doWn to the gaming tabls and 
 gambles away one one-'thousand-mark note after the 
 other, with complete trust in the Lord as .to the 
 payment of it. When the ready money is gone, and 
 he is in for it, he sits down composedly and writes 
 to his good friends and acquaintances : ' Please pay 
 my debts.' When he knows that they cannot come 
 to his assistance, because he has already exhausted 
 their resources, he applies to some rich man whom 
 he has met perhaps' once or twice in his life, and bor- 
 rows of him with an ingenuity and an impertinence 
 which are astonishing. He knows well enough he 
 will get the moHey somewhere. If things do not go 
 as smoothly as he expected, he becomes dramatic, 
 talks of retiring from the army, of faking off the 
 King's coat, of courts of honor, bullet through the 
 head and such things. Few remain cold and with- 
 out feeling in the face of such talk. There is a young, 
 blooming life to be saved, a life that in most cases 
 is not worth the powder and ball. So they go down 
 into their pockets and give to the lieutenant what he ^ 
 
FIBST-CLA8S MEN 129 
 
 needs to be restored to his position as a man of honor. 
 I don't know, Olga, whether you understand me, but 
 I tell you it is the greatest misfortune for our lieu- 
 tenants — I do not say for our officers, but for our 
 lieutenants — that they enjoy such large credit on ac- 
 count of their uniform and their position. Many 
 rich people, half -cultivated or not cultiyated at all, 
 who wish to associate with officers so that they may 
 consider themselves as belonging to the best society, 
 actually force their help upon the lieutenants who' fre- 
 quent their houses, and make them feel that they 
 can rely upon such assistance in any emergency. The 
 lieutenant makes" a note of that. He knows : I con- 
 tract the debts, somebody else pays them. Our lieu- 
 tenant, as he is to-day, will not change for the better 
 until his credit is effectually curtailed. He will 
 change only when the world is no longer fooUsh 
 enough to let every lieutenant borrow as he pleases." 
 
 " And when do you think such a day will come ? " 
 
 "At the same hour when the world ceases to see 
 a supernatural being in every man wearing a uni- 
 form." 
 
 " That means never." 
 
 " I almost believe you are right," he assented, and, 
 growing more serious, he went on,: "Do you know, I 
 am sorry for our lieutenants? Actually, there is much 
 good, sound material among them, but they are made 
 half-crazy by artificial methods. Officers are prohib- 
 ited fr^m contracting debts, as well as from gambling, 
 but nobody cares about these regulations. The pro- 
 hibitory orders are well known. Yet no civilian 
 
130 FIRST-CLASS MEN 
 
 would ever say in a club : ' Herr Lieutenant, I do not 
 wish to insult you, but I know His Majesty has for- 
 bidden his officers all gambling;' much less would a 
 merchant say to a lieutenant : ' I cannot give you 
 goods on credit ; I know you are forbidden to contract 
 debts.' The lieutenant alone is not to blame. The so- 
 ciety and business world, which not only makes it 
 possible, but even tempts him to break' the rules, is 
 responsible in th6 last analysis for the fact that our 
 officers are no longer morally and ethically what they 
 were once and what they ought to be still." 
 
 Half-serious, half -laughing, he ended: "Did you 
 understand all that, you little, silly human creature ?" 
 "Everything. You are altogether right about it.'* 
 " I only wish other people would see it in that 
 way," he said, somewhat amused ; " I think if one of 
 the Yellow Butterflies could have overheard my re- 
 marks, he would think I was crazy. He would have 
 me up before a court of honor for my rebellious 
 speeches, and I would be asked the questioti: 'If 
 that's what you think, why did you become an officer 
 yourself ? ' I might be able to reply : ' The man that 
 takes up a new calling does not know it and cannot 
 know it thoroughly. Only in the course of years did 
 I come to realize what it means to be an officer.' I 
 have my apprenticeship behind me, I have gone 
 through the world with open eyes and open heart, 
 and I must say, if I had known earlier how things are 
 in our corps of officers, had an inkling come to me 
 earlier of the thoughtlessness, the habit of debt-con- 
 tracting, the dissatisfaction in matters of the service. 
 
FIRST-CLASS MEN. 131 
 
 the hatred of superiors, of the distress for money 
 and of all the bitterness and misery, I should have 
 thought twice before donning the King's coat." 
 
 " If that's so, why do you stay in it ?" 
 
 George gazed for a while at the smoke from his 
 cigar ; then he asked : " Child, do I really not bore 
 you by all this serious talk ? " 
 
 " Not at all," she retorted, with animation, " I 
 could lie here for hours listening to j'ou." 
 
 "That being the case, I will let you have my 
 answer to the question over which I have pondered 
 a good deal, more than anyone would believe. The 
 answer in my case why I don't take off the King's 
 uniform is brief and to the point : from spite ! " 
 
 " From spite ? " she asked in astonishment. 
 
 " Certainly. Don't you know how things go in my 
 regiment ? I have never made a secret of it to you. If 
 I venture to take off the uniform now, then the Yellow 
 Butterflies would have achieved what they strove for 
 from the first day. They would have pushed me out, 
 they would again be ' among themselves.' The noble 
 company would again be undefiled. I begrudge them 
 such a triumph, because it would mean a great de- 
 feat for me. I am not seeking advance at any price, 
 but I have my own ambition, my own sense of honor, 
 and I am determined to see it through in trying to 
 create a position for myself among them. Often 
 have I yearned for a chance, for an opportunity, to 
 distinguish myself in some way, to do something ex- 
 traordinary; but it was in vain. So I must endeavor 
 to create a position for myself by conscientious per- 
 
138 FIBST-0LAS8 MEN 
 
 fotniance of duty, by industry and reliability. To 
 you I can own it. Do you believe I like the kind of 
 life I am leading here? I am young, I am rich, I 
 have no talent to be a spendthrift, still I should like to 
 enjoy my youth more than I do. I should like to live 
 better, to have carriages and hotses, a large retinue of 
 servants, to make fine journeys, and things like that. 
 I must not do it. If the aide-de-camp of our regi- 
 ment. Count Wettborn, did it, all the regiment would 
 be proud of their count, who understood how to rep- 
 resent them brilliantly. They would show the world 
 their pride that he had the means to live according 
 to his station. To the nobility it would not b© 
 grudged, with me it would be an offence. If I lived 
 that way, there would be one word only to cover my 
 case: Snob. A snob would not be endured long; 
 there is no place for him in a regiment where the 
 other men allegedly get along with modest means, 
 but are, in fact, head over heels in debt. My so-called 
 snobbery would offer a welcome cause for my transfer. 
 That is precisely what I don't want. I don't believe 
 myself that my life as lieutenant will last, but if I 
 . ever do go, then I want to be able to tell myself and 
 the world the reason for ay going. I want to stand 
 there, large and impbsingj while the others should be 
 Bham«d, if they are capable of the sensation of 
 shame." 
 
 She saw the wrinkles on his brow, and could not 
 help noticing his agitation. *' George," she begged, 
 softly, " come to me, let me kiss you, and don't get 
 worked up." 
 
FIE8T^0M8B MEN 133 
 
 "Darling, it is easy for you to say: 'Don't get 
 vexed ! ' This day seems to be predestined to bring tcJ 
 light a lot of things heretofore kept dark, so I may as 
 well own to you that I suffer terribly under these con- 
 ditions, because I am conscious of no other ill than my 
 ' Buergerlieher ' descent. If the gentlemen of the 
 nobility were free from wrong atid misdeeds; if they 
 were above reproach both in the service and out of it; 
 if our noble officers were, in fact, what they ought to 
 be: the incarnation of all honor and knightliness ; if 
 they were possessed not only of nobility of birth, but 
 also of intellect and sentiment, I would not hesitate 
 for a single moment to own openly and frankly: 'I 
 feel that I am not welcome among you. I do not eom^ 
 prehe'nd your exclusiveness from a modern, enlight- 
 ened standpoint, but I honor it, and I will no longer 
 be a burden to you.' For myself I can only judge of 
 what I have seen, and I must say that those noble 
 officers are not a whit better regarding their mode of 
 life and their pleasure in service than their ' Buerger- 
 lieher' comrades, upon whom they look with con- 
 tempt. Look how the ^nobility is favored! What 
 would inevitably break a ' Buergerlieher ' the noble- 
 man may do with impunity. The sentiment -prevails 
 that the outside world, more or less permeated with 
 social democratic ideas, must not be treated to the 
 spectacle of a nobleman on trial. The mass of the 
 people must not be able to say : The nobles after all 
 are only human. In the highest quarters nobility is 
 favored in aU. unheard-of manner, not because of its 
 special efficiency, but because it is something apart, 
 
134 FIRST-CLASS MEN. 
 
 according to the old nursery tale. You can no more 
 struggle against that than you can against stupidity. 
 It revolts me and almost turns me into a social demo- 
 crat in spite of the coat on my back. Don't I experi- 
 ence in my own case how the ' Buergerlicher ' is con- 
 sidered more and more as a being whose only cause 
 for existence consists in forming the dark back- 
 ground against which the nobility stands out in daz- 
 zling relief ? " 
 
 " But, George ! " Olga exclaimed, quite frightened, 
 " I don't know you any more ; never before did you 
 speak with so much bitterness." 
 
 " I am not embittered even now. What I have told 
 you is not the inspiration of a moment, but the result 
 of much thought, of ripe and keen observation. But 
 let us leave those serious matters. I only want to send 
 the money to the noble Willberg. After that, my 
 darling, I belong entirely to you, and will again 
 learn in your arms that life is beautiful, in spite of 
 everything." 
 
 He had risen and started to go to his desk, when 
 Olga stopped him. " Will you do me a favor, George ? 
 You know I never make requests of you, but this 
 time I am going to ask for a very, very great favor. 
 Will you grant it?" 
 
 " If I can, certainly. Why not, when I am so fond 
 of you?" 
 
 "I love you, too, and because of it I ask you to 
 pledge me your word that you will fulfil my wish." 
 
 " Darling, how can I do that ? A word of honor 
 should not be pledged lightly. Even without it, you 
 
FIRST-CLASS MEN 135 
 
 know very well that I do for you whatever I can. 
 What is it?" 
 
 She had straightened herself from her reclining po- 
 sition, and looked at him beseechingly with her large 
 eyes. She was pale with agitation and her voice 
 trembled, as she said : " Do me the favor not to give 
 the money to Willberg." 
 
 He looked at her, astonished. " Why not ? I have 
 the money handy, and even if I didn't, I should have 
 to get it. I have offered Willberg my heijp time and 
 again, now I must help him. Aside from that, it is a 
 great satisfaction to me, and you ought to feel the 
 sensation with me, that he has to turn to me again for 
 assistance. Why should you wish to spoil that pleas- 
 ure?." 
 
 He started again toward his desk, and she again 
 stopped him. " George, give your money to whom- 
 soever you like; do with it as you please, that is not 
 my business. But you must not help Willberg, under- 
 stand me, you must not, not you." 
 
 The tone of her words was so grim, betokened so 
 much resolution, that he drew near and seized her 
 hand. He saw how she trembled, and great agitation 
 took hold of him. " Olga, you hide something from 
 me ; you have reasons which you keep from me. But 
 I must know all. If you ask me not to help Willberg, 
 if you tell me that I must help him under no circum- 
 stances, then you must also tell me the reason why." 
 
 She looked at him with an expression of infinite 
 love. " Don't ask me, don't torment me, I cannot tell 
 you." 
 
136 FIBST-CLAS8 MEN. 
 
 " If I insist on it, if I must insist on it ?" He had 
 grown pale, and held her hand with an iron grip. " I 
 must know it, do you understand ? It is not right to 
 utter a half -accusation; oie should always have the 
 courage of the whole truth. I have always considered 
 you a decent, honest, true girl. Don't let me lose faith 
 in you now." 
 
 She faced him, a hot conflict raging within her; 
 her eyes were cast to the ground, her whole body 
 trembled and vibrated, betraying her agitation. Now 
 she raised her eyes and looked at him candidly. " Let 
 it be so, you shall know all, but on one po'ndition 
 only." 
 
 "What is it?" 
 
 " That you^.give me your word of honor never to 
 mention to Willberg a syllable of what I am going to 
 tell you. You can do that." 
 
 He looked at her inquiringly. " Can I do it hon- 
 estly?" 
 
 She sustained his gaze. "You can. But for all 
 that, if you should be able to prove to me the impossi- 
 bility of keeping your word, I shall release you after 
 a week, no sooner and no later. Until then you 
 must think calmly about what I shall tell you." After 
 a pause, she asked, with halting voice : " Do you still 
 insist that I must tell you all, even if we may have 
 to part in consequence, even if we can no longer re- 
 main friends ? " 
 
 A dark misgiving rose within him. "You have 
 associated with Willberg?" he asked, agitated. But, 
 calming himself, he went Cn : " How could I blame 
 
FIEST-CLAB8 MEN 137 
 
 you for that? At that time you could not know we 
 should ever meet. It is well known of Willberg 
 that he is after every young girl, that he uses every 
 means to achieve her conquest." 
 
 She gnashed her teeth in rage. "I know it only 
 too well. I have always told you that the scoundrel 
 who betrayed me had since taken his own life. That 
 is not true. He lives, and his name is Willberg." 
 
 George reeled as if a blow had struck him. He 
 sprang toward Olga and seized her by the shoulders. 
 
 " Tell me it is not true — it cannot be true," 
 
 She freed herself from his hands, " Come, George, 
 be sensible. What has happened cannot be undone." 
 
 He sank into a chair and buried his face in his 
 hands. " Such a dog ! " 
 
 Springing up suddenly, he asked: "Tell me the 
 truth on your oath. Do you still associate with him, 
 or does he know that we associate together ? " 
 
 "I am faithful to you," she answered, calmly, and 
 he heard in the tone of her voice that she spoke the 
 truth. " Since that fatal night I have seen Willberg 
 J)ut once." 
 
 " And when was that ? " 
 
 " On the way when I was with you for the first 
 time. It was then I received a letter from him telling 
 me he must speak to me in my own interest. At first 
 I did not meali to reply; but as I read his lines over 
 again, I became convinced they concerned a serious 
 matter. So I named an hour when I would be at 
 home for him, and he came," 
 
 "Well, and what then?" George insisted, when 
 
138 FIRST-CLASS MEN 
 
 she kept silent for a moment. " What did the honor- 
 able gentleman want of you?" 
 
 " He said he had observed both of us on the previ- 
 ous evening. He had followed us on the sly; he knew 
 I had gone with you to your quarters; he therefore 
 concluded, not without reason, that we two were asso- 
 ciating together. I had no reason to deny my acquaint- 
 ance with you ; I could not have done it in the face of 
 the facts he had observed. When I admitted to. him 
 openly that you wereTuy friend, he besought me never 
 to mention his name in your presence. I should not 
 have done it any way. I had resolved within myself 
 to keep his name from you; yet I seemed astonished, 
 and asked him what prompted his request." 
 
 " And what was his answer ? " 
 
 " He said he had to admit openly that he had not 
 acted quite correctly toward me that night." 
 
 " Not quite correctly is splendid ! " George laughed, 
 in derision. 
 
 " Finally he confessed it had been very wrong of 
 him to have made me his helpless victim, but that 
 my beauty had confused his senses, robbed him of 
 every sense, of every power of calm thought. He 
 said also it Should have been his duty to care for me 
 afterward, but he was ashamed of himself, because 
 at that time he was diseased. His conscience had 
 smitten him so in regard to me, he did not dare to 
 face me again. Aside from that, he had been then 
 ill a very bad condition financially, and in no wise 
 able to do anything for me. Therefore, he would 
 offer me now one thousand marks as an indemnity for 
 
FIRST-CLASS MEN 139 
 
 the wrong done to me, as a kind of hush-money for 
 the future." 
 
 " And did you take the money ? " 
 
 "Before his eyes I threw it into the fire and en- 
 joyed the expression of his stupified face. Then he 
 returned to the object of his call. He begged of me 
 never to tell you anything about the way he had acted 
 toward me. He and you were now comrades in the 
 regiment, and I ought not to cloud the friendship ex- 
 isting between you. You might not find his de- 
 meanor quite correct, it might come to an explanation 
 between you. Such a thing was always disagreeable, 
 particularly in such a swell regiment, which was 
 bound to preserve its position toward the world out- 
 side. The two of you could not well shoot at each 
 other for my sake. In short, I don't remember all he 
 said; I listened without replying. The longer I 
 kept silent, the more he grew small and meek, until 
 at last he stood before me like a guilty rogue. Finally 
 he went down on his knees, asking for my silence and 
 forgiveness. Then only did I promise him never to 
 mention his name to you. Wow I have done it, I had 
 to do it. It is not my fault, but yours, that I did. I 
 have spoken for your sake, too, because I did not 
 want to lose you on his account." Of a sudden she 
 was seized by anxiety lest he might now loathe and 
 disown her. She fell on her knees before him. 
 "George, tell me that you still love me, that you 
 won't send me away — it wasn't my fault." 
 
 He bent over her and kissed her forehead. 
 
 " Get up, my darling ; how could I be angry with 
 
140 mnST'GLASS MMi 
 
 yon ? How could I let you suffer for what a scoundrel 
 did to you ? How can it be your fault that the name 
 of that scoundrel is WiUberg ? But he, he shall sufEer 
 for what he has done to you." 
 
 " He shall not, George ! " Olga exclaimed. " You 
 gave me your word "not to mention anything to him, 
 and you Will keep that pledge. I don't believe there 
 is any occasion why I should release you from it." 
 
 He had sunk into a chair in a brown study. Was 
 there the least reason why he should proceed against 
 Willberg in any way ? He could tell him : " I have 
 become acquainted with a young girl and know now 
 that you have acted toward her like a scamp/' WiH- 
 berg could not pocket such a reproach quietly, there 
 would be at least a quarrel, possibly a, duel, and in 
 connection therewith an investigation by a court of, 
 honor. There would be a great stirring up of mud. 
 What was the use ? Willberg would probably be dis- 
 missed from the army. What then? What good 
 would that do, and whom would it benefit? The 
 army would be less one gentleman without honor, 
 certainly, but who would have to bear the conse- 
 quences? George alolie, for he would never be for- 
 given because he had proceeded so harshly against the 
 regiment's favorite. After his dismissal, Willberg 
 would still have friends enough to stand by him. He 
 would not suffer much from the fact that he no longer 
 wore the King's coat. ISTo, George would not pro- 
 ceed against him. There was not the right occasion 
 for it, he admitted to himself'. To him personally 
 Willberg had offered no offence, no insult. If he 
 
mnST-OLABS MM, 141 
 
 posed as the champion of Olga's honor, evei'ybody 
 Would shake theif heads, the coilncil of honor and the 
 commander would try to make it clear to him that one 
 does not fight duels for a yoUUg lady like Olgd. She 
 might be a Very excellent, amiable young girl^ sh6 
 might be & talented actress, but still-^in his imagina- 
 tion he heard it all, and clenched his fists in impotent 
 rage. There was something else. What would his 
 parents, what would Hildegarde say, if they learned 
 he had fought a duel for his mistress? No, they 
 must not ktioW anything about Olga. 
 
 For fully five minutes George sat in deep thought, 
 and Olga hung anxiously on his features. Her repu- 
 tation, her position, were at stake- What had hap- 
 pened between her and Willberg only the two of them 
 and George knew. She had never told anybody else 
 about it, never mentioned the name of her betrayer. 
 If George believed he could not let the matter rest 
 there, that he must report it to the court of honor, 
 then she was obliged to release him from his pledge. 
 The whole city Would know within a few days what 
 had been a secret until to-day. Then she could not 
 stay here any longer, sbe felt that she could never 
 again face an audience tbat knew how she had been 
 treated and what the consequences of that night were 
 for her. 
 
 " Well, George," she asked at last, " have you made 
 up your mind as to what you are going to do ? *' 
 
 •^Yes," he replied, with a firm voice. "The 
 scoundrel deserves I should slap his face. But I shall 
 not do it I shall remain silent, even to himself, 
 
142 FIB8T- CLASS MEN 
 
 though that comes very hard on me. Yet it must be 
 so, for your own sake, for I am too fond of you to 
 expose you to public gossip, maybe even to general 
 contempt. The world would have to change suddenly, 
 tremendously, if it were not going to condemn you. 
 As I said, I do not want that. So it is settled." She 
 put her arms around his neck caressingly. 
 
 " I thank you, George." 
 
 He led her back to the chaiselongue and sat down 
 by her side. " Lord, what a mess ! One more thing 
 I should like to know. Do you happen to know the 
 day, I mean the exact date, when that — that — ^person 
 came to you to beg for your silence ? " 
 
 " Why shouldn't I ? " she tried to jest in order to 
 bring back his Serenity, " you know it too, for I told 
 you it was the day when I was with you for the first 
 time. You cannot have forgotten the date ! " 
 
 He passed his hand across his forehead. "Don't 
 take it amiss, Olga, but my head is so topsy-turvy 
 just now I cannot remember it." 
 
 She took from her finger a diamond ring which he 
 had given her in memory of their first meeting. The 
 date was engraved in it. She handed it to him. 
 
 "Oh, yes, that's right," he said. "How could I 
 forget it?" Suddenly he sank into deep thought 
 until at last he started. 
 
 " What's the matter now ? " she asked. 
 
 "Nothing, nothing," he calmed her; "I just re- 
 membered that when Willberg came to me the first 
 time to borrow money he already knew that we asso- 
 ciated together. He had been to pay you that .call and 
 
FIBST-CLA8S MEN 143 
 
 still had the courage to come to me. Now I under- 
 stand it, all becomes clear to me. I understand- 
 why he begged so for discretion ; why I had to pledge 
 my word to keep silent to everybody. He was afraid 
 I might perhaps tell you something about it, and then 
 all that happened between the two of you might come 
 to light. That's what it was ! " 
 
 He went up and doWn the room with long strides, 
 occupied with his own thoughts. 
 
 " George," Olga begged, " do me a favor and write 
 immediately to Willberg that you cannot give him the 
 money. Then don't think any more about the 
 wretched story ! " 
 
 George stopped. " You are right, Willberg is wait- 
 ing for an answer. I forgot, I have to preserve the 
 form of civility even if I find it hard to do so." 
 
 He rapidly wrote a few lines regretting that he was 
 unable at the momeiit to place the desired thousands 
 at his comrade's disposal. ' He sent the note through 
 his servant. 
 
 "Now come to me," she begged. With one rapid 
 motion, she loosened the heavy ]et-black hair which 
 fell like a mantle upon her shoulders and down to her 
 waist. He buried his face in it and breathed the 
 precious aroma which always intoxicated him anew. 
 She passed her hand tenderly over his hair. 
 
 "You are kind and good, Olga, but the others, 
 tliose " 
 
 " Don't excite yourself anew," she begged, " don't 
 think of them." 
 
 He had freed himself, and now straightened up. 
 
144 PiBBT-OLASS MEiJ. 
 
 " Not think of them, who could do that ! Sotneihing 
 else disquiets me; wh6 knows whether I shall possess 
 enough energy and self-command to fade Willberg 
 to-morrow, and to act as if I knew nothing about his 
 villainies." 
 
 " Can't you keep out of his way ? As far as I know, 
 he belongs to another company, even to another bat- 
 talion." 
 
 " That's so, but I shall have to see him in th^ reg- 
 imental home, and even if I should not go there to- 
 morrow, I should have to see him the day following, 
 because we cannot stay away from mess for more than 
 twenty-four hours without satisfactory excuse. I am 
 afraid my blood will not have calmed by the day after 
 to-morrow." 
 
 Olga Considered for a moment, then she asked: 
 " Ooiildn't ybu go on furlough ? I shall find it hard 
 not to see you for two weeks, but the trip would do 
 you good; you would amuse yourself and distract 
 your mind. I suppose it would be easy for you to get 
 off." 
 
 " Quite correct," he said. " At preseilt there is not 
 much to do, and the furlough could not be denied 
 me. But where could I go? To my parents? I 
 should not like to see them. I could not be gay and 
 serene. They would nbtice that somethihg oppressed 
 me, and so my Comitig woilld disturb them instead of 
 giving them pleasure." 
 
 " i have it ! " Olga exclaimed. " You said a while 
 ago that you should like to enjoy life for once. Go 
 for two weeks to Paris, to Monte Carlo, or some other 
 
Finar- CLASS men. 145 
 
 fine place. If jdU see beautiful women, give them 
 my regards and tell them to be good and kind to 
 you, that I was not jealous." She added, with a 
 roguish smile : " For you won't remain faithful to me 
 any way." 
 
 " Yes, I will," he said with a firm voice. 
 
 " Oh, oh," she laughed, " I wouldn't put iny hand 
 into the fire on that/' 
 
 "But I would, for I shall have no occasion to be 
 unfaithful to you." 
 
 She looked at him in surprise. " How so, for what 
 reason ? " 
 
 " For the simplest reason iii the world. You will 
 accompany me." 
 
 " George ! " Laughing and crying for joy, she hung 
 on his neck. " You are going to take me along ? I 
 shall see Paris, or some other beautiful city ? You are 
 too kind and godd,'* and she kissed him again and 
 again. All of a sudden she grew quiet. 
 
 " What is the matter how ? " 
 
 " I cannot come along after all." 
 
 "But Why not?" 
 
 " For one thing, you must hot Conceive the idea 
 that I persuaded you to make the trip in order to 
 benefit from it myself; and then I don't know whether 
 I can get leave.*' 
 
 " What you said first is nonsense," he said. " Per- 
 haps I don't extend a favor to you by taking you 
 along, but you will give me a great pleasure by ac- 
 companying me. ISTothing is more horrible, at, least 
 to me, than to travel alone through the world, to sit 
 
146 FIBST-CLAS8 MEN. 
 
 alone in a compartment, to eat my meals alone, to 
 hurry alone through galleries and museums, and to 
 have nobody to talk to. And as for your leave, you 
 will get it, you are not so busy just now." 
 
 "But yet — the repertoire may be changed any 
 day." 
 
 "My dear child," he calmed her, "your manager 
 won't be an ogre. To-morrow morning you ask him 
 for leave, and if he interposes difficulties, you tell 
 him you are ready to pay him two or three thousand 
 marks as indemnity for the services you will with- 
 hold for the next two weeks. You will find on that 
 basis he will give you leave for as long a period as 
 you desire." 
 
 She seized his hand and kissed it gratefully. " How 
 kind and good you are. You are willing to spend 
 so much money to make me free ? Now listen, I am 
 going to offer him first five hundred marks, then an- 
 other five hundred, and so on; but more than two 
 thousand I shall not give him any way." 
 
 He laughed in amusement. "You may arrange 
 that as you like. I shall give you the money, and 
 whatever you save of the amount belongs to you." 
 
 She clapped her hands with pleasure. "I shall 
 buy an elegant travelling costume with it." 
 
 " You may leave that, darling," he begged. " What 
 dresses you need, I shall buy for you at Paris. Dur- 
 ing all the years I have been Lieutenant, I have never 
 spent half my allowance, but invested it with interest 
 and compound interest. Now I can afford to spend a 
 pile of money without the least compunction." 
 
FIRST-CLASS MEN U7 
 
 y 
 
 " Are we really going to Paris ? " she asked, her 
 eyes beaming with delight. 
 
 " If there is no hitch, we shall go to-morrow even- 
 ing. We take my servant along, upon whose discre- 
 tion I can rely. You take the train at the north 
 depot, I on the south side. I shall have the train 
 investigated as to whether there are any acquaint- 
 ances. If need be, I shall have a whole compartment 
 reserved for the two of us. Later on, if anybody sees 
 us together, what does it matter? Who knows us in 
 Paris?" -■ 
 
 " Have you been there before ? " 
 
 " Certainly." 
 
 He told her of that city of pleasure and beauty, and 
 she, tenderly nestling to his side, listened to his de- 
 scription of the splendor she was going to enjoy with 
 him. 
 
VII. 
 
 Hildegaf de^s father celebrated his sixtieth birtMfty. 
 The old major had expressed the wish to have both 
 his children with hiln oix that day. I'ritz used this 
 welcome occasion tO ask theWarnows foJ ample means 
 to defray the expense of the trip. It Would not do 
 for him to travel except first-class. He would have 
 to take his orderly along, and he would have to buy 
 a decent present for the old man's birthday. Captain 
 von Warnow felt obliged tO produce another thousand- 
 mark note. The flrst thing Frit2 did with the means 
 thug at his disposal, was to try his luck at the gaming 
 table, with the fortunate result that he won from the 
 proprietor of a landed estate in the neighborhood four 
 thousand marks cash. Such a stroke of luck rarely 
 came his way. He beamed with delight, and found 
 life a little more bearable than before. 
 
 Hildegarde at first did not wish to go. She felt of- 
 fended by her father's letter, saying : " My dear child, 
 I should be immensely pleased to have you with me, 
 but my personal wishes must not be considered when 
 more important things are at stake for you. If you 
 can't get away conveniently, or if you find it imprac- 
 ticable to leave for a few days, I advise you to stay 
 where you are and to strike while the iron is hot." 
 
 She did not wish to go, because she could foresee 
 how things would be at home; but her aunt finally 
 
FIR8T'0LA88 MEN) 149 
 
 persuaded her. Winkler was on furlough, it was said 
 he had gone to Monte Carlo and the Eiviera. He 
 ■would not be back for a week, great festivities were 
 not expected in the near future, and without Winkler, 
 it would be no use for her to attend such afEairs. It 
 would only cause useless expense for her toilette. To 
 throw money out of the window for the other men 
 who had no intentions in regard to Hildegarde, would 
 not pay. Another thing induced Frau von Warnow 
 to urge Hildegarde to make the trip. She desired 
 to be alone again with her husband, to have a week 
 when she could think and worry about other matters 
 than Hildegarde's engagement. So she thanked 
 heaven for the coincidence of Winkler's and Hilde- 
 garde's trip. In a week both would be back, and it 
 was to be hoped the affair would then come to a 
 happy termination. She felt quite assured that Wink- 
 ler was seriously interested in Hildegarde. When 
 George had taken leave of her husband he had asked 
 him particularly to convey his regards to Frau von 
 Warnow and the Baroness. This was very irregular, 
 but for that reason Frau von Warnow considered it a 
 good sign. 
 
 Hildegarde left on the morning train. Her parents 
 received her at the station. Fritz was expected within 
 an hour. They all stayed at the station, until he 
 should arrive, going to take some lunch, because 
 Hildegarde was tired and hungry after her long and 
 tedious trip. 
 
 The waiter hurried toward them, and the proprietor 
 himself appeared to inquire for the orders of such 
 
150 FIRST-CLASS MM 
 
 grand people. The major by virtue of his rank and 
 his quality as baron, belonged to the prominent people 
 in town. In this place he was the only real baron. 
 There were a few " Vons/' more or less old. So he 
 played the first part, though everybody was exactly 
 informed as to his financial-condition. 
 
 He was a type of the pensioned ofiicer, of medium 
 size, vigorous, with a red face and a mighty mustache. 
 His wife was still of fine appearance and showed 
 traces that in her youth she had been a celebrated 
 beauty. They talked about petty matters until the 
 meal was served. Hildegarde saw only too plainly the 
 impatience of her parents to learn something about 
 her coming engagement. She endeavored to avoid 
 conversation on this topic, but failed. The waiter 
 had hardly served them and received orders not to 
 come again imless he was called, when both pushed 
 their chairs nearer to Hildegarde. " Now, child, tell 
 us. Relieve our minds ; how is the affair ? " 
 
 Hildegarde answered evasively. What could she 
 say ? It might be possible that some day when both 
 had become better acquainted with one another, 
 George might propose to her — ^that was the only thing 
 she would have been able to reply. But she read 
 in her parents' faces so much anxiety and yet so much 
 hope, that she did not have the heart to spoil this 
 pleasure. She had a saving inspiration. She told 
 briefly of George, and then spoke at length of another 
 rich gentleman who had lately paid most pressing 
 court to her. 
 
 " But, child, aunt has not written me a word,about 
 
FIB8T-0LASS MEN 151 
 
 that, though she usually keeps me well iAformed 
 about everything." 
 
 Hildegarde felt embarrassed. She said : " Mamma, 
 I should not like you to write aunt about this. 
 Strangely enough, she has not noticed in the least 
 the other's courtship, neither have I told her. You 
 know how aunt is. She is well disposed toward me, 
 perhaps only too well. In her desire to help me, she 
 might go a little too far and spqilit." 
 
 "What's his name, what is he?" the mother in- 
 quired. 
 
 Hildegarde blushed. " Please don't ask me, I 
 should not like to talk about it until the matter has 
 matured." 
 
 " Quite right, child," the major said approvingly, 
 " one should not talk about business until everything 
 is settled." Turning to his wife, he went on : " Don't 
 urge Hildegarde; if she does not wish to speak now, 
 she certainly has her reasons for it." He shook hands 
 with his daughter. " I thank you, Hilda, for giving 
 me this pleasure in celebration of to-morrow: two 
 suitors in place of one. At last something definite 
 will come of it," and with a heavy sigh he added : " It 
 is high time, I could not hold out much longer." 
 
 The mother also groaned and said with a low voice : 
 " Hilda, you have no idea of the hard times we en- 
 dured while you were at the capital. Just think, the 
 tax officials were going to have an execution against 
 us. Papa had no end of trouble to secure a reprieve." 
 
 " Yes, it was a hard piece of work, and if I had not 
 been able to throw my respectable ^ame into the 
 
152 FIBST-OMBS MENi 
 
 balance, tie fellows would have put their official seal 
 on my last piece of furniture. Those people know 
 no pity." 
 
 "'At least not usually," Hildegarde interposed. 
 
 " They are entirely right about it," the Major as- 
 sented, "the State cahnot live without taxes. If it 
 would grant reprieve to, every laborer or merchant 
 who is behind with his taxes, where should we come 
 to? We should soon be in a tight place and have 
 no money for the soldiers, for pensions and for other 
 important things. The State must be relentless. If 
 it makes an exception with us, it is because it knows 
 it can afford it well. A nobleman will always dis- 
 charge his obligations toward the State and his fel- 
 lowmen in the end." 
 
 Hildegarde did not dare to contradict. She could 
 not have done it without charging her father with 
 falsehood. 
 
 The major had emptied his glass of beer. " This is 
 really a miserable morning beverage. It makes one 
 tired and spoils the appetite. Don't you think we 
 might have a small bottle of champagne to celebrate 
 our reunion ? " 
 
 The major's wife showed very little desire to do so. 
 She grudged the expense. Yet she knew it was no use 
 to object. Possibly it might raise their credit a little 
 if the proprietor told how they had drank champagne, 
 paying cash for it. So she consented. " Well, for my 
 part I consent, but please order French champagne." 
 
 " That goes without saying," observed the major. 
 "Do you think I should celebrate the good news 
 
'FIB8T-CLA88 MENi 153 
 
 Hildegarde brings us witii miserable German spark- 
 liTQg wine ? Not much ! " He called the waiter. 
 
 Hildegarde felt tempted to say to her parents: 
 " Save the money, you have no occasion to rejoice. 
 What I told you was a white lie." But she remained 
 silent. Why aggravate her parents? Perhaps a 
 miracle might happen somehow and bring everything 
 to a happy ending. 
 
 " You better bring a quart bottle Pommery," the 
 major said, " my son will be here soon, he also will 
 be thirsty, so it is not worth while to begin with a 
 pint." 
 
 The wine was served, the glasses were touched, and 
 Hildegarde was urged to give her story. " Not here," 
 she begged, " there is no more uncongenial place than 
 a waiting-room, particularly in a small town." 
 
 " Fancy, child, fancy," her father corrected her. 
 "When I was still a young lieutenant garrisoned 
 in the miserable spot which Satan may some day 
 wipe from the face of the earth, we were eztremely 
 glad when the railroad was finished and we had a 
 depot. Day after day we would walk to the station, 
 enter the -waiting room and feel there as easy and 
 comfortable as nowhere else. If the road had not 
 come at last, if we could not have gone daily to the 
 station, I believe we could not have supported life 
 in the long run, but should have become deranged. 
 Before that when our day's work was done, the ques- 
 tion would confront us : when and how are you going 
 to bed, early and sober, or late and tipsy ? Now our 
 life had a higher aim, we must see the trains come 
 
154 FIRST-CLASS MEN 
 
 and go. We did that more concientiously tha;n we 
 performed our regular service. Think of the fun, 
 if some one among us espied an acquaintance in 
 the train. He was taken willy nilly from his com- 
 partment, if need be even by force. When we 
 had captured such a guest with a good deal of in- 
 genuity, we did not let go of him easily. He was 
 placed under military supervision, as it were, so that 
 -he could not escape us. Our guest enjoyed full lib- 
 erty, he could do what he pleased, provided he did 
 not go to the depot. When at last he had to go away, 
 after proving clearly to us that he could stay no 
 longer, he was obliged to buy himself free with a 
 giant ' bowle.' Ha, ha, ha ! We were regular high- 
 waymen, but good Lord, what could we do in such 
 a stupid place ? " 
 
 The major loved to tell of the life in the small 
 garrison, where apparently he had felt quite at ease, 
 in spite of all his cursing and scolding. Talking 
 about the time when he was a young lieutenant, he 
 more than once would interweave his tales with the 
 words : " Children, we played pranks then, pranks, — " 
 and he would half close his merry eyes in memory of 
 the gay hours when wine, women and dice played the 
 main role in his existence. Possibly the life in the 
 small garrison was a beautiful memory to him solely, 
 because he considered it as a kind of episode. Im- 
 mediately after his engagement he had been trans- 
 ferred to the capital where he played a great role, 
 because he was an amiable man and a good officer, 
 and his wife attended all of the Queen's entertain- 
 
FIRST-CLASS MEN 155 
 
 ments. A great career was prophesied for him. But 
 one day during an inspection he was severely criti- 
 cized. The sneering tone in which the general, in 
 the presence of all officers, judged his achievements 
 made his blood boil, and he so far forgot himself as 
 to tell his superior before all the lieutenants that his 
 excellency was likewise o'nly human and might there- 
 fore err; that he did not consider his excellency's 
 view as absolutely decisive. That was more than 
 insubordination, and the major had to thank his stars 
 to get off with discharge without being punished. 
 He had to go; but a little later the general also was 
 discharged because in high quarters the manner of 
 his criticism was not considered quite correct. When 
 the major told of his term as lieutenant, he would 
 go on talking about one thing and the other, and 
 though his ladies already knew the stories, they 
 would listen to him with loving attention. There 
 was nothing for him to do in the wide world now but 
 to tell of the things he had gone through as an 
 officer, in gay and in hard times. When he was 
 drinking champagne as he did now, the past appeared 
 to him in a golden hue. When he was at home with 
 his financial worries, he couldn't find anything good 
 in the whole army system. 
 
 At last the train that was to bring Fritz was 
 signalled. 
 
 The major looked into the bottle. It was empty. 
 He turned to the waiter to order a new one, but the 
 ladies objected : " Let us drive home, where it is more 
 congenial. We have to dress before dinner." 
 
156 FIB8T-CLAS8 MEN. 
 
 Eeluctantly, the major at last consented. "I'll 
 pay the bill!" He put his hand into his pocket. 
 " Lord, I forgot to put th$ hnndred-mark note in my 
 pocket, and now I haven't got eno\igh money with 
 me." 
 
 "Pray, that doesn't matter, Herr Major," the 
 waiter said, " the Herr Major will pay the next time." 
 
 Hildegarde blushed, she was deeply ashamed for 
 her father. She knew this triok only too well. She 
 had witnessed times innumerable how her father 
 had forgotten the hundred-mark not which usually 
 he did not possess at all. How was it possible it ihad 
 escaped her for the moment? Under no circum- 
 stances must her father owe the breakfast in which 
 she had taken part. So she opened her pocket-book : 
 "I have change. Father, how much do you need?" 
 Without waiting for his answer she pushed two gold 
 pieces toward the waiter. 
 
 "Yes, that's better, Hilda, please remind me so 
 that I refund you the money when we get home." 
 
 The waiter offered the change, but Hildegarde mo- 
 tioned to him : " It is all right, keep the change for 
 yourself." 
 
 They arose and went out to the platform. " Hilde- 
 garde, how could you be foolish enough to pay ! " the 
 major scolded. " To-morrow they'll tell through the 
 whole town that you brought money, and when I cele- 
 brate my birthday, they will attack me from all quar- 
 ters for payment of their bills. One must either pay 
 cash down for everything, or have everything charged. 
 The former I cannot do, so I have everything charged 
 
FIB8T-0LA8S MEM 157 
 
 in order to pay off the lot in one stroke." HildegarHe 
 was indignant over this view. " What do you think 
 about it, mother ? " 
 
 The Frau Baronin shrugged her shoulders. "I 
 should like it much better, if we could pay cash for 
 evferything, but since we caH't we choose the other 
 way. The people know that their money is sure." 
 Drawing Hildegarde a little aside, she inquired with 
 a subdued voice t "Do tell me, for I am greatly 
 troubled, and wonder that Papa has made no inquiry 
 about it; yet, what will the Warnows give him for 
 his birthday?" 
 
 " Uncle gave me a check payable at the local branch 
 of the Imperial Bank, for six thousand marks." 
 
 "Fot more?" 
 
 " Mamma ! " 
 
 Hildegarde found no words. She had been more 
 than ashamed over her Uncle's great kindness. She 
 had counted up for herself all he had spent in the 
 course- of years for Fritz, for her parents and for 
 herself. True, he was rich and did not spend all 
 his income in spite of his brilliant establishment, and 
 in spite of what he gave away. Yet his kindness had 
 touched her and made her feel ashamed, so that she 
 had hesitated long before accepting the money. 
 
 In deep thought the mother had walked by her 
 daughter's side, while the father talked with a rail- 
 road official as to why the track was not free yet. 
 ]Sro# she spoke : " I belieVe he will be disappointed. 
 As far as I know, he has been counting on at least 
 tea thoiisand marks. After all, six thousand is a good 
 
158 FIB8T-GLAS8 MEN. 
 
 deal of money, if nobody hears anything about it. 
 Else it will all be taken away from us forthwith." 
 
 The arrival of the train put an eiid to the conver- 
 sation. A moment later Fritz hurried toward his 
 parents and his sister. He was attired in faultless 
 civilian dress, yet his bearing plainly indicated the 
 officer. 
 
 "Morning, Mammai; morn|ing, Papa; morning, 
 Hilda; it's nice that the four of us are together again 
 for once. Let us have a fine celebration for a few 
 days." He looked around for his orderly. "Where 
 is the clown? The devil knows, those fellows get 
 more stupid every day. There he comes." ' 
 
 The orderly appeared, and Fritz handed him his 
 baggage certificate. "If you rhinoceros believe that 
 I took you along for your private pleasure, you are 
 mistaken. You are here for me. If you loaf around 
 
 and don't attend to your d duty, I'll have you 
 
 locked up for a few days and get another in your 
 place, do you understand? Hurry up, get the bag- 
 gage into the carriage." 
 
 " At your service, Herr Lieutenant ! " The orderly 
 trotted away to carry out his orders. 
 
 Hildegarde noticed how the soldier's face flushed 
 at the way in which his lieutenant treated him in the 
 presence of the ladies and of the other travellers. She 
 said to her brother: "Don't be so cross with your 
 orderly; he surely looked forward to this trip with 
 some pleasure. You should not spoil it for him." 
 
 " It is all the same to me whether the fellow enjoys 
 himself or not," Fritz snarled at his sister; "the 
 
FIB8T-CLA88 MEM 159 
 
 main thing is that I should have my own comfort. 
 Aside from that, I beg of you not to prescribe to me 
 how to treat my men. Don't bother about things that . 
 are none of your business. Eather tell me what is 
 the condition of your fortune. Will it be soon time to 
 congratulate, eh?" 
 
 They had seated themselves in the carriage. The 
 luggage had been stowed in the vehicle, the orderly 
 was enthroned upon the trunks, and they drove 
 toward the villa inhabited by the major. 
 
 Hildegarde did Hot answer. Fritz was about to 
 repeat his question when he read in his mother's 
 eyes the request not to insist further with Hilde- 
 garde, since everything went well. He felt relieved. 
 
 After a brief journey they arrived at the house, 
 and later on met at table. The major beamed with 
 pleasure at having both his children with him. In 
 celebration of to-day and in anticipation of to-morrow 
 they had the best of food and the best of wines. Later 
 on when the coffee and the cigars were served, they 
 remained together for a long time. Brother and 
 sister had to tell their story, the one from the"^ 
 capital, the other from his provincial garrison. 
 
 Though the major loved his beautiful daughter, 
 yet Fritz was his spoiled favorite. Everything he did 
 was good, everything he said was unquestionable. 
 Hildegarde, on the other hand, found her brother had 
 grown more intolerable since she saw him last. He 
 was possessed of an incredible superciliousness, the 
 type of a young officer who has nothing, is nothing, 
 and yet fancies himself to be a higher being because 
 
160 FIBST-0LAB8 MEN 
 
 y 
 
 of his coat. His deifleaaor was as affected as Ms 
 exterior; the ends of the mustache proudly pointing 
 upward, the hair parted down the baj&k of his head, 
 the monocle which he did -iiot take from his eye for 
 a moment, the ciTilian suit cut in an ultra-fashion- 
 able pattern. He was not exactly homely. He 
 looked Veil with his supple and elegant figure, his 
 face not intellectual, and not very expressive, but 
 blooming and open. 
 
 Naturally he told of his horses, his service, and 
 his comrades, and Hildegarde finally was so bored 
 that she rose under the pretext that she needed rest. 
 The mother also rose after having arranged with her 
 daughter for a few calls to be made during the after- 
 noon. When father and son were alone, it was: 
 " Well, don't we drink another bottle ? " 
 
 " Of course ! " 
 
 The wine was served, and for a little while they 
 dwelt on the old subject of conversation; then they 
 talked of Hildegarde. 
 
 " The girl still looks fine," Fritz said. " You really 
 think something will materialize this time?" 
 
 The major saw everything to-day in a rosy hue. 
 " Certainly, positively. Hildegarde has even two on 
 her hook, one will bite under all circumstances." 
 
 Fritz groaned aloud: "May the Lord grant it!" 
 
 " Yes, may the Lord grant it," his father assented. 
 " Now we see salvation clearly ahead of us ; you need 
 tio longer have any secret from me. Besides, you 
 know that I could not pay your debts. I told you 
 so at the time you became an officer. This is what I 
 
FimT-.0.LAS8 MEN %n 
 
 iold yoTj : Gontiaet ^s maay debta aa yo.u like, but JQU 
 must look out yourself how you pay them. Now eon-i 
 feas, how deep are you in debt?" For a moment 
 Fritz was somewhat embarrassed. 
 
 " Do you really -want to kaoiw ? " 
 
 ^' Why not ? Since I pay nothing, you may rest as-' 
 sured that I will not offer any reproaches." 
 
 Fritz lighted a new cigar. '<A11 told, it will be 
 about forty thousaiid marks." 
 
 " And how long have you been a lieutejiant ? " 
 
 *^ Seven years," 
 
 "That makes annually six thousand marks, in 
 round %uTes. It isn't exactly a trifle." 
 
 Fritz shrugged his shoulders. "What can I do? 
 liife is e:5pensiv©. One is not horn into the world 
 only to attend one's service. With the allo^vance you 
 made me, I cannot get along, of course." 
 
 " Somebody else might — not you." 
 
 "I believe nobody else would, ^t least not in my 
 regiment. They are all in debt, some more, some less. 
 §eventy-iive per cent, of the lieutenants confesa from 
 time to time to their parents and relatives, and then 
 a, few thousand marks are raised, always for the last 
 time, to get the youtig gentlemem afloat again. If 
 you multiply by seven the a,maupt of debts paid off 
 by the others annually you get a pretty sum. In my 
 case things have a^umulated little by little, and 
 meanwhile never a cent has been paid off. If one is 
 in it as deep as I am, higher interest is charged than 
 to a fellow wh© has stilt a clean sheet. The last time 
 I wrote my g-ign^ture for three thousand marks, all 
 
163 FIB8T-CLA88 MEN 
 
 my wiles and artifices would not procure for me more 
 than one thousand." 
 
 "Well, that's at least something," the major 
 laughed. 
 
 Involuntarily Fritz joined the laughter. Then he 
 grew serious and inquired: "How are things with 
 you, papa ? ' 
 
 The major smoked furiously. " Don't ask me, my 
 son; miserable." 
 
 The old gentleman looked so downcast that Fritz 
 felt genuine pity. " Poor father, they will go better 
 in the near future." 
 
 " Certainly, but you may believe that, though 1 am 
 a man of liberal ideas, it seems horrible to me to 
 have to accept money from my son-in-law, not only 
 to pay my debts, but to be able to live at all." 
 
 Fritz looked astonished. "I don't understand 
 you." 
 
 " You're a young lieutenant, single. You have to 
 c£lre for nobody but yourself. Now look at me ; I am 
 a man of sixty. I have been pensioned for more 
 than ten years. When a boy of eight I became a 
 cadet. I have worn the uniform for more than forty 
 years. During that time I drilled recruits after 
 learning to drill myself; I did my duty on the drill 
 ground and elsewhere and took part in three cam- 
 paigns. What is the result? J^left the army on a 
 pension on which a man with a family cannot live. 
 Pu|sh;ed aside withi four thousand marks a year! 
 Pray, what are four thousand marks nowadays? 
 They say things will be improved, pensions will be 
 
FIRST-CLASS MEN 163 
 
 increased — ^well^ let us assume that we get an in- 
 crease of fifteen hundred marks per annum. It won't 
 be more than that anyway, if we get as much. What 
 then? Would even six thousand marks suffice to de- 
 fray the living expenses of a family? Perhaps in a 
 little town and with very modest living. Is it for 
 that one has grown gray, has exposed his bones for de- 
 cades in peace, has braved danger in three cam- 
 paigns ? In old age must one suffer restriction after 
 restriction in order to be able to live at all? There 
 is a saying, ' If you have been used to cake in your 
 youth, you won't find it easy to eat rye-bread in your 
 old age.' We pensioned officers mostly ate cake in our 
 youth. Of course, there are honorable exceptions 
 who got along with their allowance, who lived econom- 
 ically and modestly; but the majority plunged into 
 life and enjoyed everything it contained. Think how 
 we were feted, from one festival to the other, from 
 one dinner to the other. The choicest bits were 
 placed before us, we were overwhelmed with atten- 
 tions, we were courted and flattered in every way. 
 Think how well we lived at the Casino. We ordered 
 whatever we wanted, and if we didn't have ready 
 money we had it charged. Then, after such a gay 
 youth, follows a dreary old age. The worst is not 
 the enforced idleness. At least there is rest from 
 drudgery. Two things make our life intolerable: 
 financial worry and the position we occupy. What 
 are we now? Absolutely nothing. The youngest and 
 most stupid lieutenant plays a far more important 
 role. We are done for. Nobody notices us; we are 
 
164 FIEST.CLA88 MEN 
 
 either ridiculous or at best to be pitied. Most people 
 can't understand what business we have to remain 
 alLve. Having done our duty for decades, we may 
 retire to some miserable hole, either to be bored or to 
 starve to death. You have iio idea, my son, how 
 things are in the families of pensioned officers living 
 with us in this town. It is the same in each Pen- 
 sionopolis. There is a wailing and gnashing of teeth, 
 of which only the initiated have any idea. How few 
 find an opportunity to add to their income. The pen- 
 sioned ofiBeer is treated with a suspicion that is not 
 without good cause. If he applies for a position, or if 
 he is active as agent or wine-:salesm^n, how much 
 can he earn? Only in the rarest instances does it 
 amount to anything. It's misery, a dog's misery. 
 Fill my glass, my son, pour out the wilie. Let us 
 gild the gray day, yes, let us gild it ! " 
 
 Father and son touched their glasses and emptied 
 them with one draught. Fritz spoke : '" Father, you 
 may be right in what you sayj bijt haw can it he 
 changed? It always was so. Jt'always will remain 
 
 BO." 
 
 " Certainly; at least as long as the officer plays in 
 society the rdle he plays to-day." 
 
 Fritz looked up, astonished. "Bo you, as an old 
 officer, wish to have it otherwise ? " 
 
 *'In some respects, yes. Nothing is farther from 
 me than the wish that the officers as a class should 
 lose any of their standing. In my judgment, they 
 should remain in the estimation of the public what 
 they are to-day : first-class men. That ia necessary if 
 
FIRST-CLASS MM^ W5 
 
 our army is to continue as it is. It is true things 
 are not altogether as they should be; the tetfernal ih- 
 spections, the fear of dismissal, the struggle for iiidi- 
 vidual existence, will not admit of the uninterrupted 
 warlike education of our troops. But that is another 
 story." He turned to his son : " Fill my glass again ; 
 this long talk makes me thirsty." He eihptied it at a 
 draught and went on : " Whetef ore, my son, the first- 
 class men should continue to be Caste One, but in 
 order to do so they should flock by themselves more 
 than they do now. There is always talk about the 
 caste spirit among the -officers. True, it is shown on 
 solemn oceasioiis, when unwelcome elements are to be 
 kept out of the officers' corps, or when somebody 
 stabs a civilian with his sWord, or when an officer 
 shoots a comrade or somebody else in a duel. If on 
 Such occasions the other classes raise a howl, the 
 answer is: 'We are Caste One! We have our own 
 standard of honor. You do not comprehend us. Our 
 thoughts are not your thoughts, and your thoughts, 
 praise the Lord, are not ours.' How is it with Caste 
 One in other respects? If its views are special, its 
 conceptions of honor high, then it should not simply 
 pose before the world, but it should in fact be Caste 
 One; It should always be mindful of our Emperor's 
 words : ' The best company for the officer is and al- 
 ways will be the officer.' Ybu don't live up to this, 
 and that brings me to my point. Look at the Com- 
 pany the officers frequent to-day. They do not move 
 in bad society, but they have too milch society. The 
 iieute'nants are too much in demand. Ilverybody who 
 
166 FIRST-GLASS MEN 
 
 keeps an open house wants to have the officers with 
 him. How do you treat that ? You accept every in- 
 vitation, unless there is something against the host 
 which makes your appearance in his house an abso- 
 lute impossibility. That is the case only in the rarest 
 instances. Wherever a dinner, a supper, or some 
 other entertainment beckons, with good eating and 
 good drinking, there you find the officers. In order 
 to eat and drink well, they go to people with whom 
 they would not sit at table but for the fact that they 
 are rich. It is a sad fact that money ennobles now- 
 adays even in the eyes of the officers. The proud con- 
 ception of honor which Caste One should cherish 
 
 should liot consider whether Mr. X; is rich or 
 
 poor, but only whether he is a man of honor. I have 
 observed often enough how even old officers bow low 
 before the money-bag, how they court the favor of 
 rich people, how they make every effort to be intro- 
 duced into a house from which a good dinner or a rich 
 daughter beckons. In acting that way the officer 
 lowers himself in the eyes of other people and becomes 
 exposed to the contempt and ridicule of reasonable 
 and thinking men." 
 
 "But, father," the son interposed. 
 
 " Let me finish. Up to this point you must agree, 
 if you are just. However, the chief reason why I 
 should like to change the social position of the offi- 
 cer is that existing conditions deprive him of pleasure 
 in the service and force him into a false mode of life. 
 If he goes to balls, evening after evening, he cannot 
 attend to his duties early the next day. If he indulges 
 
FIRST-CLASS MEN 167 
 
 daily at other people's table in oysters and cham- 
 pagne, he cannot live modestly at the Casino or at 
 home in the simple fashion he ought, in order to re- 
 main within his means, in order to be a shining model 
 of the true Caste One. I don't blame the lieutenants 
 entirely for the lives they lead, nor society either. 
 The chief fault lies with their superiors. In my 
 judgment, it is their duty to forbid the officers to 
 carry social ihtercouTse to such extremes. Mere 
 admonitions not to live beyond their means will not 
 do, nor is it of much use to read to the officers from 
 time to time His Majesty's order : ' The more luxury 
 and easy living abound, the more it behooves the offi- 
 cer to be a shining example of thrift and clean living,' 
 or words to that effect. Such orders may cause the 
 officer to be thrifty at the Casino; but life at the 
 Casino has rarely been the cause of anybody's down- 
 fall. Society is the officer's ruin. It inoculates him 
 with the mania of greatness, almost with the sense of 
 being the special favorite of the Almighty. It instils 
 into him the poison of feeling himself a being apart. 
 Above all, it forces him to make debts, to live without 
 God, in order to emulate the rich. Once you become 
 an old fellow like myself, without money and with- 
 out position, you will see and comprehend how society 
 sinned against you by spoiling you in such fashion. 
 A young lieutenant is obtuse enough to believe the 
 invitations are tendered for his own sake, when 
 they are meant only for the uniform." 
 
 " Not always." 
 
 " With the lieutenants always, I would bet my life 
 
168 FIRST-CLASS MEN 
 
 on that. Don't you know the late Emperor Frederick 
 signed an order aceordiiig to which his officers should 
 wear uniform only when on duty, but should other- 
 wise appear in civilian dress ? I do not wish to pass 
 judgment upon this ordinance from the highest quar- 
 ter. It was never carried out. If it had been en- 
 forced it would have deprived the lieutenants of their 
 social position with o'ne stroke. The little girls would 
 have been disappointed, the Krefeld Hussars would 
 not have been in such a great demand. If you may 
 believe me, the execution of this order would have 
 done a great deal of good to the officers in many 
 ways." 
 
 Fritz had listened to his father in astonishment. 
 Now he said : " How would you picture our life to 
 yourself after such changes? Without society, we 
 could not exist, we should grow stale and stupid." 
 
 " Not in the least," the old major laughed. " Hon- 
 estly, my boy, what does your conversation at social 
 affairs amount to? You talk, that's all. You utter 
 sweet nonsense. You gossip together. Did you ever 
 attend an entertaiimient where you discussed a serious 
 topic ? You couldn't do it if you tried, because you 
 are far too stupid for it I Don't feel offended by that 
 harsh' word. I know I am right. Nobody has the 
 right to reproach you with your stupidity. The 
 largest percentage of officers consists of cadets. What 
 do they learn in their course of preparation ? Athlet- 
 ics, riding, drawing, manners and deportment, Wbat 
 else ? What you acquire as to sciences is hardly worth 
 while, but will suffice for the career of a lieutenant. 
 
FIBST-CLASS MEN. 169 
 
 I have belonged to the cadet corps myself, and can 
 tell you that such life seemed to me horribly dull, 
 because I realized I knew precious little of what a 
 cultivated man ought to know. That a young lieuten- 
 ant nowadays educates himself happens only in the 
 rarest instances. If he works at all, he sticks to 
 special branches, is glad to have completed his round 
 of duty, to rest himself, or to fill his stomach with 
 alcohol. Ah, the last occupation is not the worst; 
 flu the glasses, my boy ! " 
 
 Again they touched glasses, 
 
 "What were we talking about?" the major in- 
 quired. " Oh, yes, I recollect. Your intellectual cul- 
 tivation does not tend to make you yearn for social 
 affairs. On the contrary, if you were wiser, you 
 would perceive what a bore it is to dine to-day at 
 Miller's, to-morrow at Schulze's, and to dance at- 
 tendance upon the young ladies. You could well 
 dispense with the entertainment, but not with the 
 little girls and the good living." 
 
 " What do you want, father ? I don't understand 
 you. Almost every week you read in the papers 
 about a scandal in some small garrison. Either two 
 drunken lieutenants box each other's ears, or they 
 have seduced each other's wives, or contributed in 
 some way to the chronique scandaieuse. There is 
 always this plausible excuse : ' The men have nothing 
 but the wine-room, which corrupts their morals. If 
 they could have social life, like their comrades in the 
 large cities, such affairs could not happen.' If we 
 
170 FIBST-CLA8S MEN 
 
 had no piore social affairs, we should simply rot. 
 Yet you wish to take them from us." 
 
 " N"ot at all. I should only chalige it, simplify it, 
 reorganize it. If nowadays two lieutenants meet in 
 the morning at duty, and one tells the other how he 
 went the day before to the Privy Councillor's, it is 
 dead sure the other will ask, 'Anything decent to 
 eat ? ' Though the first speaker prides himself on 
 his inability to commit anything to memory, he will 
 grilid out the whole long menu with all the brands 
 of wine consumed. If an old staff officer who knows 
 how to appreciate good wines does such a thing, I let 
 it pass. The man is within his rights ; it is his sacred 
 duty gratefully to appreciate all the good wines the 
 Lord permits to grow. But if a lieutenant at twenty 
 does it, it is nothing but the desire to boast. Those 
 young fellows have no idea as to what is placed be- 
 fore them, they are too inexperienced to understand 
 it; but they are forced, as it were, to become gour- 
 mands and high livers. If a couple of lieutenants 
 are -asked to dinner somewhere, the good housewife 
 wrings her hands : ' We cannot have this, we cannot 
 have that, it isn't good enough. If we don't give 
 the gentlemen something good, to eat, they won't 
 come again ; they are so spoiled.' True, in general, it 
 is the custom to invite to dinner the captains and 
 staff officers, and the lieutenants only to balls ; but is 
 the supper after a ball anything but a dinner served 
 late in the evening? There is caviar, lobster pdtS de 
 foie gras, and such things. One bottle of cham- 
 pagne following another. That is the wrong society 
 
FIB8T-CLA8S MEN 171 
 
 inflicts upon the young officer. That's the way you 
 are spoiled ta such an extent that it becomes your 
 hide-bound conviction : to live means only to live well. 
 You see it everywhere, in every house. No wonder 
 your ideas become warped." 
 
 "But how are you going to change social condi- 
 tions?" 
 
 " I should arrange it so that in the future it should 
 not be a matter of eating and drinking, but that 
 people should find real sociability at such festivities, 
 not merely a grand supper. First of all, the young 
 lieutenant should in future be treated as a human 
 being, not like a demigod. He should realize that 
 trouble and expense are not taken for his sake, and 
 that he is nothing more than a young man of decent 
 family. His senses should not be intoxicated, he 
 should be treated with courtesy and kindness, like 
 any other guest, but he should not be preferred. If 
 society resolves to take that course, the lieuteliant 
 will again be what he ought to be, and what he no 
 longer is nowadays. He would lose his excessive self- 
 conceit, perform his service with eagerness and pleas- 
 ure, would again live a life of thrift and simplicity, 
 would no longer be ashamed to own franldy : ' My 
 means won't allow this or that.' The number of 
 those who drop out because of their thoughtless mode 
 of life would diminish rapidly. Later on, wheU the 
 lieutenant would doff his uniform, he would no 
 longer yearn for the flesh-pots of Egypt. He would 
 know how to get along with his pension. If, during 
 his whole term of service he had not been worshipped 
 
ira FIEST-CLA88 MEN 
 
 like a second golden calf, lie would bear it better later 
 on not to play the first vioHli when pensioned. 
 Another thing: If it has been made clear to him 
 while an oflBcer that he is not better than other human 
 beings, he will not shrink from work and will not be 
 ashamed of it after he has quitted the service. He 
 will learn to fit himself for a position which enables 
 him to support himself and his family. He will con- 
 sider it respectable to live on money honestly earned, 
 rather than to borrow and to run into debt." 
 
 Fritz was more and more astonished. "How do 
 you come to hold such views ? " 
 
 "How? I have always held them, though I did 
 not always live up to them. You know the predica- 
 ment 1 am in. Is it not natural I should ask myself 
 who and what is at fault? I have thought about it 
 seriously, and I have reached this conclusion ; Society 
 is at fault for spoiling us, as it is now spoiling you, 
 and for throwing aside without regard anybody no 
 longer wearing the uniform. Society means well; 
 but, without intending it, is sinning against the 
 lieutenants. In that sense. His Majesty is right in 
 regard to the sentiment quoted : ' The best society for 
 the officer is the officer.' Had I become a colonel, 
 commanding a regiment, I should certainly have told 
 my officers : ' Gentlemen, you will have to stop run- 
 ning to any house where a dinner smells nice; I 
 shall name for you the families with whom you are 
 allowed to associate.' I should the!n have selected for 
 them only those houses where they would have had, in 
 tlia first place, good family associations; secondly, 
 
FIRST-CLASS 'MBN, 173 
 
 only a very simple supper. You may believe me, my 
 son, at first my officers would have cursed and con- 
 signed me to the devil, but later on they would have 
 toasted me. You remember what Bismarck said: 
 ' Other nations can imitate everything we have, ex- 
 cept the Prussian lieutenant.' The old gentleman 
 was right the'n. Would he be so to-day ? " 
 
 " With your permission, father -" 
 
 " Keep still, my son," the old major laughed ; " you 
 are my favorite, my spoiled boy. Would you assert 
 seriously that you are the kind of Prussian lieutenant 
 whom Bismarck praised?" 
 
 "Not exactly that," Fritz observed evasively, 
 " but " 
 
 " Drop it. Don't defend yourself any further. It's 
 high time we should stop talking. I must have my 
 siesta. At six o'clock I go to the ' Daemtnersehoppen.' 
 I hope you come along ? " 
 
 "Why, certainly, papa." 
 
 " So long, then," And the old gentleman retired 
 to his room. 
 
 At supper the family was united again. The two 
 gentlemen had stayed longer than usual at the 
 " Stammtisch." The men occupying that table were 
 all pensioned officers. Day after day they talked 
 about the army, about the promotion of their former 
 assoeiates, and were convinced that the latter by no 
 means possessed more merit than they themselves. 
 They would keep on talking, arguitig, scolding. In 
 that little circle the appearance of Fritz was a genu- 
 ine sensation. They were heartily glad to have with 
 
m FIR8T-CLAS8 MEN 
 
 them at table a real lieutenant, though in civilian 
 dress. They suddenly reached the conclusion that 
 the usual sour Moselle wine was no -suitable beverage 
 for the occasion. So they ordered a better brand, 
 and lingered chatting for a long time. The major 
 and Fritz were rather silent during supper. The 
 mother told of the visits made with Hildegarde. As 
 she believed he;: husband in his gay mood would 
 bear with more equanimity the disappointment that 
 Warnow's present was only six thousand marks, she 
 told him of it, and informed him that she had had 
 the check cashed at the bank. 
 
 "It is not much, but it is something," said the 
 major ; " let me have the money." 
 
 His wife objected. 
 
 "Let me keep it till to-morrow. We may then 
 consider what we are going to pay with it." 
 
 " To pay ! " Fritz said. " JSTow you have a few 
 pennies in your pocket, you mustn't be so foolish as 
 to part with them immediately. If you pay one man, 
 then they will all come, and the house will be over- 
 run to-morrow when papa celebrates his birthday. Is 
 anybody foolish enough to pay his debts ? " 
 
 The major asseSnted. " Fritz is right. He is a 
 very sensible fellow. If the crowd has waited so 
 long for their money, they may well wait a few 
 weeks longer, until Hilda is engaged. Prosit, 
 Hilda!" 
 
 Fritz, too, raised his glass. " This is to your in- 
 tended, what's his name? — it don't matter. The 
 main thing is he ha§ money," 
 
FIBST-CLA8S MEN. 175 
 
 Hildegarde di'd not touch her glass. She would 
 have preferred to leave the table. She could not bear 
 the majiner in which they spoke about her. She had 
 to control herself not to burst into tears. If George 
 knew how they drank his health, how they only 
 thought of his money, not. in the least of himself! 
 
 "If you won't drink with us, let it alone," Fritz 
 said, emptying his glass. 
 
 The major returned to the subject of the money. 
 "Do you know, wife, with those ducats we could 
 make a fine trip. During the last three years we 
 have never had a chance to leave this miserable place. 
 We might set aside two thousand marks, so as to 
 have something when we come back; the other four 
 brown notes we might take and go to Italy for, a few 
 weeks." 
 
 His wife was greatly tempted to assent to this 
 plan; yet she said: "Later on, my dear, when Hilda 
 is engaged. 'You shouldn't forget her engagement 
 may take place any day. In that case, we ought to 
 be here on the spot in order to embrace the dear son- 
 in-law." 
 
 "We will embrace him,' said the major. "We 
 will fold him in our arms. He shall be astonished 
 how tight we hold him. Eh, Fritz?" Turning to 
 his wife, he said: "Just think of it, mother, our 
 Fritz, the loafer, has debts amounting to forty thou- 
 sand marks." He could not stop laughing over his 
 son's achievement. 
 
 The mother clapped her hands in terror. " Fritz, 
 how is it possible ? " 
 
1^6 FIBBT^OLASS MEN 
 
 Hildegarde, too, was aghasi "What do yoil do 
 with all the money you get ffom home and from 
 uncle f" 
 
 "Ask the stars, they know everything/' he was 
 about to sing^ but he could not catch the tune at the 
 moment j so his answer consisted only in a iew in- 
 articulate sounds. 
 
 The mother was s^till unable to calm hereelf. 
 " That is terrible. Let Us hope Hildegarde's future 
 husband will pay youf debts ; but, suppose he doesn't, 
 what then?" 
 
 "Then I'll put a bullet through my head. But 
 he'll pay up. I'll see to that." 
 
 "Oh, that you had chosen another calliflg!" the 
 mother walled. " For one without money it is worse 
 than insanity to become a lieutenant." 
 
 " It is," Fritz assented, " but what's the good of 
 crying over gpilt milk? You should have conaid^ 
 efed that before you started me as a cadet. I wasn't 
 even asked about it." 
 
 " That's tight, heat the fellow blame us for it," the 
 major laughed. 
 
 " Father, I don't mean that. In a way I feel happy 
 and at ease as a lieutenant. I don't know what else 
 I should have bedome. But it has its drawbacks to 
 be a lieutenant. There is ilo end of financial worries 
 and of the ever-ptesent fe^ar to be digmissed sooner 
 than you expect. Hottible sensatioil ! I can't under* 
 stand at all why fathers let their sons become ofEicers. 
 At kast, I don't understand why dismissed officers 
 in particular put their own sons into the ttaiforsi, 
 
FIBBT'CLA88 MENi 177 
 
 Tlie 'alten Herren/ yon, father, at their head, and 
 all whom I saw to-day around the ' Stammtiseh,' 
 grumble over the wrong they suffer by being retired 
 so early. They complain that the army no longer is 
 what it once was. They groan over the smallhess of 
 the pension on which they have to rely for a living. 
 They swear about the allowance they have to maJse 
 to thei]* sons; they know full well they can't get 
 along with it and will have to contract debts. They 
 know that at best the boy will only rise to the rank 
 of a staff officer, and then will have to lead just such 
 a miserable, embittered life as theirs until his death. 
 They know yet more: how some accident on duty, an 
 evening of gayety, some mad prank, may put a stop 
 to the boy's career, and, knowing all that, they still 
 let him become an officer. If it happens that the 
 boy breaks down and has to take off the uniform, 
 then there is a groaning and complaining, and the 
 son alone is blamed for it." 
 
 They do not all carry on as badly as you do," the 
 major observed. 
 
 "You are right about that, but I don't speak of 
 myself, I speak of general conditions- In my own 
 regiment we are almost all sons of retired officers. I 
 hear flften enough one or the other domplaining : 
 'Why didn't my father choose for me some other 
 calling, since he must have known that I can't get 
 along with such a small allowance?' Yes, why do 
 the old officers continue to put their sons into the 
 corps in &pite of the reasons against it ? Simply be- 
 cause the cadet corps means little expense, and so 
 
178 FIBST-CLAS8 MEN. 
 
 the education of the boys becomes an easy matter 
 for the parents. If the ' alten Herren ' would have 
 to pay for each boy in the cadet corps four or five 
 hundred marks annually, besides the expense for 
 clothing, itistead of the eighty marks they are called 
 upon to pay now, do you think they would still con- 
 sider it a matter of course that their sons should 
 become lieutenants? They wouldn't think of it. 
 Now they simply say: let the boys grow up at little 
 expense; as for the rest, we'll see later on. An old 
 uncle, or an old aunt, is frequently counted upon, 
 and if they should strike or leave this world, the lieu- 
 tenant is in for it. He must either contract debts, or 
 it is expected of him to live on air. People always 
 talk of easy-going lieutenants, instead of talking of 
 easy-going parents, who choose for their sons the very 
 calling that makes it impossible for them to earn 
 any money, while the temptation' to spend it is the 
 greatest imaginable. And all in order to save the ex- 
 pense of an education ! " 
 
 " Very true," said the father, " but if an officer 
 has no money to send his son to college, as in my case, 
 what is he to do ? " 
 
 "Fritz might have become a business man," ob- 
 served Hildegarde. "If a man has no money, he 
 should choose a calling where he can earn some." 
 
 " Very beautiful and true in theory," replied Fritz. 
 "If many fathers had such wise ideas as you, my 
 pretty sister, things would be better with our officers. 
 The first-class men. Caste One, as father called us a 
 little while ago, would not have to wander around. 
 
FIRST-CLASS MEN, 179 
 
 begging and borrowing, trying their luck in gambling 
 to keep their head above water, until they either 
 make a rich match or go to the devil somehow." 
 
 The major had listened attentively to his son. Now 
 he said: "I am surprised that you, the son of an 
 old officer, should talk that way. According to your 
 theory, who should make up the gaps in the ranks 
 of the officers, if not we ? " 
 
 " In the first place, only those who have the finan- 
 cial means to safeguard the ■ future of their sons. 
 Only those should become officers who really love the 
 service, and are willing, under all circumstances, to 
 make sacrifices and to suffer for it. You cannot ask 
 of a little boy, put into the cadet corps at eight, that 
 he should really understand what the love of a sol- 
 dier's career means. A calling should be chosen only 
 when one is old enough to have judgment about it. 
 Eeasons of economy and the like should not decide 
 the fate of a boy put among the cadets. You cannot 
 expect of such a boy that he should become a model of 
 decent living and be possessed of a high sense of 
 duty. If I had anythng to say about it I should 
 abolish the cadet corps." 
 
 " Ho, ho ! " the major exploded, " you go a long 
 way, better alid better ! " 
 
 Fritz cooly went on : "A while ago you explained 
 to me at length that we don't learn much whUe in 
 the corps. Aside from that, there is another great 
 drawback : we come too soon into the army, we reach 
 the rank of officers while we are too young. Fre- 
 quently, young fellows become lieutenants at eighteen 
 
180 WIBST'CL'ASS MEN. 
 
 or ninetee'n, suddenly attaining positions such as no 
 other young men of their age occupy. We have the 
 handling of money before we have learned how to 
 use it properly. Think of the life in the corps : how 
 the boys are watched and protected! Except in the 
 eases of the seledt, they must not smoke, they must 
 not drink beer, they must not have leave without 
 being especially invited; they must bring proof in 
 writing how long they have stayed with their rela- 
 tives — '-" 
 
 "That seems to me very good," observed Hilde- 
 garde. 
 
 "Maybe it is and maybe it isn't The transition 
 later on to actual life is too sharp, too rapid. Twenty* 
 four hours after leaving the corps, one is an ensign, 
 enjoying at a stroke all the liberties heretofore so 
 strictly withheld. The young man can eat and drink 
 what he likes, he can smoke, he can go out. In short, 
 on a sudden, he can enjoy in full the pleasures of 
 life< No wonder the pendulum swings violently the 
 other way in the realization that strict discipline is 
 at an end- The exuberance of the spirit naturally 
 leads to extremes. Can you blame the young ensign 
 if he acquires bad habits at that age?" He con- 
 tinued: "As a young lieutenant, few only possess 
 the energy to make a change. The other day we 
 looked up in the army list how many of our com- 
 rades of our own age who were with us in the corp3 
 are still in the army. We were shocked to find how 
 many of them had dropped out, gone to the detil. 
 The education iu th? corps is to bktae iot it, nothifi^ 
 
first-class MBN 181 
 
 else. An officer at nineteen, this list at twenty-three ! 
 That happens far oftener than people think. It 
 proves that in the corps the cadets don't eyen learn 
 the o'ne thing they really ought to know: to control 
 themselves, and later on to live as officers in the 
 proper way. Too mnch stress is laid in the corps 
 npon the drill, upon the practise in arms, upon the 
 hours of work, and such things, and not enough on 
 the formation of character. It is a sort of artificial 
 education, not a development of the individual. The 
 corps cai never supplant the family home. What 
 the child sees living with his parents, what be hears 
 and learns there unconsciously, is a thousand times 
 better than all the forced education in the corps." 
 
 " But how would you change it ? " asked the major, 
 very much interested in the subject. The ladies had 
 risen and seated themselves at another table, and 
 were busied with needlework. 
 
 " I don't know," said Fritz, " perhaps there is a 
 remedy. As I said, the corps should be abolished 
 and each officer should pass successfully through col- 
 lege, as was formerly the case in regard to the navy. 
 There might be an age limit, say twenty years. Then 
 a young fellow might become lieutenant at twenty- 
 two. That would be early enough, and would do 
 away with the necessity of forever figuring about the 
 age question. The age limit in the army would have 
 to cease. To-day the man who does not reach a cer- 
 tai!n stage at such and such an age has no chance to 
 make a career. Why should the army be kept young 
 by forced methods? Hundreds upon hundreds are 
 
183 FIB8T-0LA88 MEN 
 
 thrown out every year by this forced process of re- 
 juvenation. It brings to the army a steady flow of 
 new elements, new superiors, new views. It does not 
 make the education of the rank and file more easy. If 
 the young man is lieutenant at twenty-two, he may 
 be captain at thirty-five, major at forty-four, com- 
 mander of a regiment at forty-eight. Isn't that early 
 enough ? If he shows extraordinary talents he would 
 advance even quicker." 
 
 " How would that effect the efficiency of the force 
 for service in the field ? " 
 
 " You ought to be able to answer that better than 
 I, since you are retired on a pension as an invalid. 
 Tell me frankly whether you did not feel vigorous 
 and young enough for field service after your retire- 
 ment, in spite of your alleged invalidity ? " 
 
 " To be sure," the major replied, " I should say so. 
 The staff physician fumbled with me long enough 
 without finding any ailment that would warrant his 
 death certificate for me. At last I came to his assist- 
 ance, naming an ailment from which I did not suffer. 
 That settled it. I could have stood it easily for 
 another five or ten years. At the Pension Office in 
 any large city you might scrutinize the many officers 
 appearing there the first of every month to draw their 
 pension, their sorry penny, as they call it. They are 
 all down in the list as invalids, as men retired be- 
 cause of advanced age; yet they are hale and hearty 
 physically." 
 
 "We, too, say that to ourselves. At the Casino 
 we have talked about such matters lately. Of course 
 
FIRST-CLASS MEN 183 
 
 that leads nowhere, yet it is interesting to hear what 
 the comrades think about it. As I said, we are agreed 
 among us on this point : Away with the cadet corps ; 
 let the college certificate of maturity be indispensable 
 for every lieutenant. Let no one become an oflBcer 
 before the completion of his twenty-first year. You 
 would see many things change for the better. It is 
 nonsense to have a lad of eighteen stand in the front 
 as the youngest lieutenant and shout at the big re- 
 cruits. N"o wonder the funny papers make sport of 
 us. Such boys are caricatures in themselves." 
 
 There was a long pause. The major had consid- 
 ered Fritz's remarks califaly, and now said : " Fritz, 
 in many respects you have sensible views." 
 
 " So it seems to me," Hildegarde interposed, "I 
 offer you my compliments, Fritz. Hearing you talk 
 so seriously and to the point, I did not recognize 
 my light-hearted brother." 
 
 Fritz bowed to his sister. " Much obliged ! They 
 say in the regiment that I have lucid moments, but 
 those illuminations of my mind are rare ; my spiritual 
 darkness disappears only whe'n I drink copiously. It 
 is then that I begin to think, because otherwise I 
 lack the courage. I always feel myself to be a social 
 democrat." 
 
 " Fritz ! that's fine. You, a lieutenant, a social 
 democrat — that caps the climax ! " 
 
 " Children, calm yourselves ! " Fritz begged. " I 
 have not so far drunk brotherhood with Bebel. When 
 I say I am a social democrat, I don't mean I .have 
 signed the platform of the party. The division of all 
 
184 FIBST'OLASS MEN, 
 
 property might suit me very well, provided I came out 
 ahead. What I meant to say was that I am a dis- 
 gruntled noble. That we all of us are, everyone of 
 us, from the colonel down to the youngest lieutenant. 
 One can't always express his sentiments as one shoiild 
 like, one has to consider the uniform; yet there is 
 plenty of dissatisfaction, not only in ours, but in all 
 the regiments." 
 
 " It was different at my time," observed the major. 
 " We argued and found fault, but otherwise " 
 
 "Father, it was different then. Then there ^^as 
 a major's corner, where people came to grief as first 
 lieutenant; now one can be put on ice and bj trans- 
 ferred to some district command or the like. For- 
 merly it was a so-called day of honor, a -festival, if a 
 high superior came to make an inspection. Now 
 there is trembling for weeks till he arrives, and 
 trembling for weeks when he is gone, for fear of dis- 
 missal. Formerly we had a triennial service for the 
 privates. Now we are to teach the men all they 
 ought to know in two years, and the present require' 
 ments in regard to the service and out of it are not to 
 be compared with former decades. As to money 
 affairs! I won't speak of myself, I'm a thoughtless 
 dog. Now and then somebody tries to get along with 
 his allowance, but is actually prevented by his su- 
 periors. There is an entertainment here, another 
 there, a love feast, guest day, birthday anniversary, 
 garden festival with ladies, jubilee of the regiment, 
 leave-taking dinner; even the man who desires to 
 live sensibly can't get away from the champagne bot- 
 
FIBST'CLASS MSN 185 
 
 tie* He lias to do as the others do. I wondej- 
 whether in your time there were as manj deductions 
 from the salary as we have for presentsj flowers, 
 funds for the Casino, and a thousand other things? 
 Then the debts for dress 1 I believe I owe mj court 
 tailor alone fite thousand marks. There is always 
 something new, other cloaks, other caps, other coats, 
 other buttons, other sashes ! So it goes all the time. 
 Who has to pay for it? The lieutenant. Where 
 does he get th6 money from ? < That's his business. 
 On the o'ne side we are always admonished to be 
 thrifty, not to spend money. On the other we ai'e 
 steadily forced into new expenditures. Some time 
 that must change, or else our corps of officers will be 
 ten times deeper in debt ten years from now than 
 they are to-day. This afternoon, in conversation, you, 
 father, blamed Society for the fact that we live be- 
 yond our means. We officers blame our superiors 
 for it. We always have to find the money for pur- 
 poses of show; what we live on is our business. If 
 it is found that we have incurred debts, there is the 
 devil to pay. We are ordered to settle everything 
 inside of three days, if possible. On such ofccasions 
 we are threatened with dismissal, in order that the 
 colonel may not be dismissed himself, because he did 
 not know how to guard and preserve us from run- 
 ning into debt. Only recently I had such an experi- 
 ence myself. I owed four hundred marks at the 
 Casino, and had my choice, either to pay within 
 twenty-four hours or to be punished with five days' 
 confinement to my quarters. Naturally, I paid, and 
 
186 FIRST-CLASS MEN 
 
 the colonel was satisfied. It did not occur to him to 
 inquire where I got the money." 
 
 " Where did you get it ? " 
 
 "Borrowed it of a Jew, of course. I am not a 
 magician; I cannot conjure money out of the air. 
 That is precisely the unreason of it all. One is com- 
 pelled to contract new debts to pay ofE the old ones 
 of which the commaiider has heard." 
 
 " Does your colonel know that you are in debt ? " 
 
 " Of course he knows it, though he probably has 
 no inkling how deep. He says to himself : ' What I 
 don't know don't bother me. I don't worry about 
 matters unless they come to my notice officially.' His 
 own career, his own future, are nearer to his heart 
 than mine. It does not concern him whether I am 
 kicked out or not ; but if I go, possibly he may have 
 to go too. Therefore he closes, not only both eyes, 
 but also both ears. He wants neither to see nor to 
 hear, because he knows only too well I am by no 
 means the only one. If he were to proceed against 
 one he would have to do the same thing in regard 
 to others. He is mighty careful not to do it. He 
 wants to become a general. Let his successor estab- 
 lish order among the corps of officers." 
 
 It was late when th^y retired. Father and son 
 might have continued the conversation through the 
 night, but the ladies insisted on making an end of 
 it for the time. To-morrow was a festival day, 
 which would bring many calls, may congratulations, 
 many demands on physical endurance. 
 
 The festival day did not begin according to expecta- 
 
FIRST-CLASS MEN 187 
 
 tion. It had become known that Hildegarde had 
 'cashed a check biea^ing her father's name. The 
 news spread in the small town with lightning-like 
 rapidity. Everybody hearing it who had a claim 
 against the major determined to call in the morning 
 and ask him to pay the bill now outstanding for 
 years. Everybody counted on being the first caller. 
 
 They were still at the early breakfast when the 
 claimants were announced. The major knew what 
 was in store for him. He cursed and swore like mad : 
 "That comes of you women folks meddling with 
 money matters! How could you cash a check when 
 anybody stands by and sees the transaction? Why 
 should there have been a check? Couldn't Warnow 
 have sent the paltry few thousand marks in cash? 
 TheS. nobody would have known anything about it, 
 Now I have to let them clean me out. But I won't 
 think of it ! " he burst out suddenly, " I won't think 
 of it! To have my birthday spoiled by that im- 
 pudent crowd. I'll kick the whole caboodle into the 
 street." 
 
 "Won't you let me talk to the people?" Fritz 
 asked. "I have practise in such things, I under- 
 stand how to handle them. Nobody ever got anything 
 out of me. I can't understand, papa, why you should 
 get excited over such a trifle. Just leave it to me." 
 
 He started to go out, wheii his mother restrained 
 him. " That won't do, Fritz ; you don't know how 
 often the sherifl has been here. So far he has only 
 sealed a part of our furniture, but did qot actually 
 levy on it Now, if the people know that we have 
 
188 FIRST-CLASS MEN 
 
 toiohey, he Will haVe to levy. He has toH u^ so him- 
 self. We don't want papa to go throlgh that experi- 
 ence to'day/' / 
 
 " N"oj not that." Fritz had grown very serious, and 
 inyoluntarily looked atound for the sherifE's seals. 
 
 " He only sealed pieces whete you don't see it," the 
 mother whispered to her solij " the carpets, the piano, 
 the bookcase, the picturesj in short, all the things on 
 the walls. Oh, it is terrible ! " She began to cry. 
 
 "Now you must whimperj" the tnajor burst out. 
 "Formerly there was a serenade to celebrate my 
 birthday. Now, when I have grown gray and old, my 
 wife begins to cry because there is no money, while 
 the creditors wait outside. So it is for this I have 
 lived to the age of sixty, to celebrate the day in this 
 fashion?" 
 
 He walked up and down the rdoin, cursing, and 
 listening to the voices of the people who stood out-' 
 side in the hall waiting for him. 
 
 Suddenly he stopped in front of Hildegarde, put 
 his hand upon her shoulder and said : " Well, Hilda, 
 you perceive we really can't wait much longei' for 
 your intended. Bring him to us soon, before it is too 
 late, before the crowd here has taken everything away 
 from me 5 before they sell off our furniture; before 
 your mother and I are thrown into the street." 
 
 There was so much bitterness in his wotds, such a 
 despondency, that Hildegarde at this moment could 
 not think of herself, but only of her parents, though 
 she was treated simply as an anchor to windward. 
 She, too, burst out crying. 
 
FIRST^OLASS MEN 18:9 
 
 " Number two," the major scalded, '* that's right." 
 ^' Don't he UBJust, father," Fritz begged; "you 
 can't blame mother and Bildegarde for being sad. 
 The matter is more than disagreeable to me also." 
 
 " The'n you, too, may begin to howl," the old man 
 eursedj^the veins on his forehead swelling. 
 
 " I don't mean to. What I am thinking is how the 
 people may be satisfied. I did not know the seals 
 were put on your things. You should not have kept 
 that from me." 
 
 After a moment he inquired : " For what sum are 
 the seals put on ? " 
 
 " For a paltry two thousand marks." 
 " That will hare to be paid off to-day." 
 " I don't think of it, the seals doii't trouble me." 
 " The two thousand marks will have to be paid off 
 for all that," Fritz continued, with decision. "If 
 you don't pay them, I will. I have won a few thou- 
 sand at play and I will make you a present of the 
 two thousand." The major looked at his son in 
 astonishment. 
 
 " What prompts this magnanimity in you ? " 
 "Eegard for myself aiid for Hildegarde. It is 
 just possible my regiment might get an inkling of 
 how tilings stand with you here. That would under- 
 mine not only my position, but my credit. It might 
 have for me consequences neither you nor I would 
 like. You must also think of Hildegarde. Jiiat 
 imagine her intended paying you a visit within the 
 next few weeks, possibly the next few days, Suppose, 
 through some unfortunate coincidence, he noticed 
 
190 FIB8T-CLA88 MEN, 
 
 the seals. In that case the man would have to be a 
 downright idiot if his eyes were not opened to the 
 fact that he is only married for his money. Such en- 
 lightenment before the wedding must be prevented 
 at all hazards. If you don't see to it, I will." 
 
 The major had dropped into a chair, wherg he sat 
 in a brown study. The two women were crying 
 softly. 
 
 Fritz had risen and turned to his mother. " I am 
 going to talk with the people. Give me the six thou- 
 sand marks." 
 
 "Oh, the money!" the major groaned. For the 
 first time in a long while he had slept through the 
 whole night, his cares not keeping him awake a single 
 moment. The sensation of having six thousand marks 
 cash in the house had filled him with a great joy and 
 given him a feeling of safety. Now people were 
 standing outside to take that money away. 
 
 " Fritz," he turned to his son, " promise me to 
 haggle with the crowd as much as ever you can. 
 Don't give away every cent, or else we shall have no 
 money in the house." 
 
 " With my housekeeping allowance I can get along 
 until the first," the mother observed, " I still have a 
 hundred marks." 
 
 " I can give you another hundred marks, mamma," 
 said Hildegarde. " Aunt has provided me with ample 
 money for travelling expenses." 
 
 "I will add another hundred marks," said Fritz. 
 He had no family attachment whatever; but the dis- 
 tress which had invaded the place seemed to him most 
 
FIB8T-0LA88 MEN 191 
 
 unsuitable for their station. A man must lend a 
 helping hand to his family in order not to be looked 
 upon as a beggar's son. 
 
 Before opening the door Fritz turned around. 
 " Papa, you want me to talk to the people, or would 
 you rather go yourself " 
 
 But the major declined. " Better you go ; I should 
 grow angry. You better see what you can do." 
 
 Fritz went into the adjoining room and made all 
 those who stood outside enter together. They were 
 craftsmen and shopkeepers. They knew Fritz per- 
 sonally, greeted him with great friendliness, and 
 were modest in their demeanor. 
 
 In the regiment Fritz was known as proud and su- 
 percilious; but he could be extremely amiable if he 
 wished to flatter anybody. Now he shook hands all 
 around, inquired after everybody's family and cracked 
 a joke or two. Thus his little game was already half- 
 won when he began : " My father is not feeling well 
 to-day, and therefore asked me to speak to you and to 
 pay his bills as far as he is able. A good many of 
 you are now here together, but we'll come to some 
 understanding. Of course we can't pay everything 
 at once. You know how, through the failure of 
 his bank, my father lost the larger part of his for- 
 tune," he prevaricated unblushingly, "but within 
 the next few months we shall secure a large sum from 
 our family endowment, and then everybody will be 
 paid to the last cent. What we can give to-day is a 
 payment on account. I feel sure that will be satis- 
 factory to all of you. As you know, my father cele- 
 
192 FIB8T- CLASS MEN' 
 
 bratea his sixtieth birthday. You would not apoil 
 the day which he desires to celebrate with his wife 
 and his children ? " 
 
 No, they didn't wish to do that. They knew very 
 well they would get their money in the end j but they 
 had heard the major had received a large sum yester-i 
 day, and so they wanted a little of it themselves. 
 
 Fritz was overjoyed at these words. Evidently 
 those people were far more reasonable and decent 
 than he expected. So he made the mental reservation 
 of saving at least a one-thousand-mark note for his 
 parents. These creditors would be more thaft sati»i 
 fied if he divided the five thousand marks in eash 
 among them. 
 
 He made them hand hini their bills. A sati&fied 
 smile played around his mouth when he added the 
 sum tatal ; all in all it amounted to only ten thousand 
 marks. "I shall save my thousand," he thought. 
 Then, he took up the claiinants one by one, talking 
 earnestly to each. Finally his plan was successful. 
 They all were content to reeeive about oneAalf their 
 claims, and to wait with the rest for another three 
 months. 
 
 It took Fritz fi^lly an hour to linish with them and 
 to obtain from each a written consent not to urge 
 payment for the next few months, nor to send any 
 bills. In order to keep the people in good hximoi 
 while they were waiting he offered them wine and 
 cigars. They drank the win6, touching glasses with 
 the son to the health of the father, but they did not 
 
P1B8T-CLA88 MEM 193 
 
 dare to smoke in the presence of the Hej^f Lieutenant 
 and in the room of the Herr Major. 
 
 At last they started to go. Again Fritz had a 
 handshake and a friendly word for everybody, and 
 they parted as good friends. Their laughter as they 
 left could he heard in the breakfast room, where the 
 rest of the family waited for th6 outcome of the nego- 
 tiations. 
 
 Fritz teturnSd, beaming with joy, and put a thou-* 
 sand marks upon the table. " I have saved this. For 
 the time being they are all satisfied, and will give 
 you a rest for the next three months. Then Hilde- 
 garde Will be married. Once she is engaged I shall 
 be able to raise that trifling amount for you; I have 
 achieved far more difficult things. I should like to 
 know one thing, papa; those few debts, altogether 
 about ten thousand marks, could not rob you of your 
 night's rest. I thought you OWed at least seventy or 
 eighty thousand marks." 
 
 " I do, perhaps even more. I never had the cour- 
 age to add it up." 
 
 " Little use in doing that, i{ one can't pay," Fritz 
 observed, indifferently. Then, partly from curiosity 
 and partly because of genuine Interest, he inquired, 
 " To whom else do you owe, papa ? " 
 
 "All over. The bills are something tremendous, 
 partly of many years' standing." 
 
 " Then a good mahy of them must be outlawed." 
 
 " Fritz ! " protested flildegarde, " the people must 
 get their money." 
 
 "Easily said," observed the major, "but where 
 
194 FIBST-CLA88 MEN. 
 
 from ? I haven't anything, at least not for the time 
 being." 
 
 "Do you owe on promissory notes?" Fritz 
 inquired. "You must not take my question amiss, 
 but since I am acting to-day, as it were, as the ad- 
 ministrator of your finances, I should like to get a 
 clear idea of your condition." 
 
 " No," the father assured him, " no notes of mine 
 circulate, but I owe to all my acquaintances; to the 
 one five, to the other three, to the other one thousand 
 marks, and so on." 
 
 " Oh, you shouldn't worry about that, papa. If 
 anybody assists a friend in distress, he knows full 
 well that in nine hundred and ninety-nine cases out 
 of a thousand he won't get his money back. I can't 
 see why you should be a laudable exception. Who- 
 ever lends you such a sum realizes from the begin- 
 ning that he'll never see the money again." 
 
 " That may be," the old major said ; " but, after 
 all, the people only gave me the money because I told 
 them of Hildegarde's coming engagement." 
 
 " Papa ! " exclaimed Hildegarde. A hot flush rose 
 to her face ; she felt deeply indignant. " So it has 
 come to that ! " Not only do you think and talk 
 among yourselves of nothing but my possible engage- 
 ment, you even tell other people about it, in order to 
 obtain credit." 
 
 Her mother laid her hand upon the daughter's 
 shoulder to calm her. "Dear Hildegarde, you 
 shouldn't look at it in that way. The people to whom 
 we talked are intimate acquaintances." 
 
FIRST-CLA88 MEN 195 
 
 The major; too, endeavored to calm his daughter; 
 but Hildegarde was inaccessible to any such reason- 
 ing. "I simply can't show myself any more in the 
 street. You have made me positively impossible here. 
 Now I understand the hints thrown out yesterday by 
 the friends of mamma, when they inquired so assidu- 
 ously how I was. To-morrow I leave; I shan't stay 
 here another day." Bursting into tears, she left the 
 room. 
 
 "That's a charming birthday (celebration," the 
 major swore under his breath, slamming his fist on 
 the table. 
 
 "Hildegarde will calm down by-and-by," said 
 Fritz. " She is a sensible girl, only the money 
 affairs caused her some irritation. By noon she will 
 be the same as ever. I think I shall arrange the 
 affair with the sheriff, else I shouldn't enjoy the 
 champagne later on." 
 
 Though, in the afternoon the seals were removed 
 from the furniture, the champagne did not taste 
 good. The housdiold was in a dreary mood. When 
 the major retired he owned to himself that he had 
 never celebrated so dismal a birthday as that of his 
 sixtieth year. 
 
VIII 
 
 Little Willherg tad fehot himself. 
 
 Thfe tegiihent liioTlrQed the loss of the odrmfade 
 who had been feyeryhody's favorite. Yet they could 
 not forgive him that he had not quitted the army 
 herfore leaving life. Twenty-four houis, more or 
 lessj eouid not have mattered Hluehi His dismissal 
 could have been obtained within that time- They 
 could not Tlndefstand why he should not have showed 
 regard fof his regiment, which he loved, And of which 
 he was proud. Wh&t one officer does always reflects 
 upon the Ivhole §i the corps. Willberg should have 
 restlizfed that; he should haVe considered that his 
 suicide would cause no end of trouble to his regiment. 
 
 Such was the generail view. How Correct this was 
 seemed to be pi'oven by the fact that the newspapers 
 of the capital occupied themselves minutely -frith little 
 Willberg's death. An effort had been na&de to hush 
 up> the story. At the Suggestion of the eonilnandef, 
 the aide-de-camp, Count Wettborn, had paid a visit to 
 all the papers, begging them not io publish anything 
 about the sad case. Only to the two social democratic 
 papers the Count did not go ; he could not brilig him- 
 self to such a step. Those papers published day after 
 day new disclosures about the life of the suicide. 
 More than the officers had anticipated came to light. 
 The yellow Butterflies were indignant to see pub- 
 
lieTiea lirpad'cast all those tJiJBgg wbiehj aecord- 
 ing to tlieir own idea, did not eoneern anyl)ody. The 
 worst oi it was that people dr&w fr(?m the life of the 
 dead concliisions by 'm mews flattejjlng to the spirit 
 and conduct of the regiment. 
 
 The Tiellow Biitterfljies wete beside themsplYes, 
 That such a thing should happen to thenj who had 
 been so aristocratic, who h§.d enjoyed the reput^^tion 
 of being one of the most feudal infantry regiments ! 
 That it should be a scion of the oldest nobility who 
 furnished cause for such judgments! To the news- 
 papers this was a welcome opening for renewed at- 
 tacks upon nobility^ for demonstrations, that the 
 people of blue blood were not a whit better or more 
 decent than those who had to be satisfied with 
 ordinary red blood. 
 
 What made matters still more unpleasant was the 
 fact that the reports were apparently true. Willberg 
 had gone very far and been implicated in affairs by 
 no means clean. Much cropped out of which the 
 comrades had had no inkling. The commander was 
 in an uninterrupted state of profanity. The first 
 da^y ajfter the sufLcide the regimental bureau was 
 stormed by people who had claims against Willberg 
 and were seeking 'advice as to where those claims 
 could be presented a:nd paid. During the following 
 days, when people were no longer admitted, no end 
 of letters came, showing more or less dirty episodes 
 in WiUberg's life. 
 
 That it should be one of the nobility who caused 
 the regiment their shame and hianjiliation ! Nobody 
 
198 FIE8T-0LAS8 MENj 
 
 said outright, but they all thought: If cnly Winkler 
 had shot himself instead of little Willberg, what a 
 fine position they would occupy. Then they could 
 throw out their chests and exclaim with pride : " See, 
 we of the nobility are so much better ! " Yet it was 
 the nobleman who was dead, and the "Buerger- 
 licher " who was alive. 
 
 Nobody among the Yellow Butterflies knew what 
 drove Willberg so suddenly to his death. He left no 
 letter, not a line, furnishing the least explanation. 
 Naturally the commander inquired of the comrades 
 whether any of them could throw light upon the 
 afEair. The Yellow Butterflies could only look at 
 each other and shrug their shoulders. They knew 
 little Willberg had gambled and lost; but such a 
 thing had happened often. If he didn't shoot him- 
 self before for this reason, why should he do it this 
 time? This view was strengthened by the fact that 
 the Uhlan stated upon inquiry that Willberg had paid 
 his gambling debt to him before he died. This state- 
 melit was not in accord with truth. On the contrary, 
 the Uhlan had earnestly reminded Willberg that the 
 time for discharging his debt had expired. He had 
 admonished him that one could never be too correct 
 in the regulation of such affairs which were con- 
 sidered debts of honor. Thereupon Willberg had 
 shot himself. The Uhlan, though he felt no remorse 
 for having driven his comrade to suicide, was not 
 anxious for his own sake that the truth should come 
 out. 
 
 The day after the funeral it occurred to the regi- 
 
FIB8T-CLA8S MEN 199 
 
 mental aide-de-camp to qiiestion Willberg's orderly 
 and to see whether he could not furnish some infor- 
 mation. But the man knew nothing, though he was 
 put through a regular inquisition. At last he seemed 
 to remember. " One evening I welit with a letter to 
 Herr Lieutenant Winkler. My lieutenant was wait- 
 ing at home for an answer, and when it came he was 
 more excited than I have ever seen him. I heard him 
 walk up and down for hours, and when I wanted to 
 wake him up the next morning, he had not been in 
 his bed at all, but was lying asleep on the sofa." 
 
 " You probably don't know what was contained in 
 the letter you took to Lieutenant Winkler ? " 
 
 The feUow didn't know. They let him go, and the 
 aide-de-camp told his commander what he had 
 learned. Upon receiving this news, the colonel paced 
 up and down excitedly. "How long is Lieutenant 
 Winkler still on furlough ? " 
 
 The Count looked up the record. " He will have 
 to report to-morrow noon." 
 
 " So much the better. Otherwise I should have 
 him recalled by wire. I want to see him to-morrow 
 by all means. The higher authorities demand a full 
 report about Willberg's death. Until now I have 
 been faced by a puzzle. Possibly some light may be 
 thrown upon the case through Winkler." 
 
 George read in Paris of Winkler's death. Though 
 the news shocked him at first, it could not make him 
 sad. During these last days he had thanked Olga 
 almost every hour because she had persuaded him to 
 make the trip. He did not deceive himself iiito b§- 
 
200 WimTrCLASS MEN 
 
 lie\4ng that he could have been iible to fa§e Willberg 
 calmly. So he felt relieved when he learned of his 
 death. He alnjost thanted heaven for sparing hipj. 
 & meeting with him, Of course it seemed sad that 
 Willberg should die so young, but his death meant 
 no loss for the army and fgr the corps of ©jBOcers. He 
 had dreaded meeting him. again, Now he returned 
 to his garrison in a sereUe and cheerful mood. Two 
 delicious weeks lay behind hijn, Olga and he had 
 enjoyed life in the beautiful city in full, The fur- 
 lough had been a real recreation, and he wa§ rejoiced 
 to return to his work and to his people. 
 
 " The colonel desires to speak to the lieutenant to- 
 morrow morning at eleven o'clock at the office of the 
 ragimelit." 
 
 That was the notice George found oh coiping home. 
 For a moment he felt a^^little embarrassed, Was it 
 possible the commander had learned that h? had 
 been to Paris without having leave to cross the boipid- 
 ary lines? Well, the penalty for such an oifepce was 
 not so very heavy, at the worst a few days' confine- 
 ment to your room. That shouldn't spoil the memory 
 of the holiday. 
 
 The first words the colonel addressed to him in the 
 morning dispelled his fears in that regard. The 
 colonel inquired /how he had liked the Eiviera, and 
 immediately entered upon the main point on his 
 mind. He stated what Willberg's former orderly had 
 said, and asked George what he knew about it. " It 
 seems to me important to know what was contained 
 
FIRST-GLASS MEN^ 301 
 
 in the letter Willberg Sent yoli. Can and will you 
 inform me on that point ? " 
 
 Geotges tefleeted for a moment, and then feaid: 
 " Since I am not explicitly pledged to sileiice, I be- 
 liere I am guilty of no indiscretion in replying to 
 your inquiry." 
 
 "Have you still Willberg's letter?" 
 
 " I hfeve not, Odlonel, but I recollect its contents. 
 Herr von Willberg wrote me he had gaiubled and 
 needed five thousand marks to discharge a debt of 
 honor. If he didn't get the money, he would have 
 to resort to thef pistol to restore his honor.'* 
 
 " That d gamblitg ! " the coloHel sWore. " If 
 
 it only could be eradicated once for all, root and 
 branch." After a moment he inquired: "Did you 
 give him the money ? " 
 
 " No, colonel." 
 
 " The gambling debt is paid," Count Wettborn in- 
 terposed. " The colonel needn't be concetoed about 
 that." 
 
 The commander felt greatly relieved; "I'm glad 
 to hear it." Turning again to George : " So you 
 didn't give him the money ? May one khow why not ? 
 Please understand me. "Whether jIm were willing to 
 lend Willberg the amount or not, was Of course en- 
 tirely your own affair. What I mean is, were you pos- 
 sibly unable to let him have the money, or did yoii 
 not take his threat to commit suicide seriously ? " 
 
 "1 must own to you. Colonel, I didn't reflect at 
 all on that point. I was about coming tO Serr voh 
 Willberg's assistance, when I learned about him ia,(iti 
 
203 FIR8T-0LA88 MEN 
 
 whicli made it imposible for me to carry out my 
 purpose." 
 
 " What was it ? " The colonel and Count Wettbom 
 looked at George with intense interest. 
 
 " I can only answer in a general way, because I am 
 pledged to secrecy." 
 
 " Pledged to the dead?" 
 
 " 'No, to a living person, the same to whom I owe 
 my information." After a pause he went on : " When 
 I was about to send to Herr von Willberg the money 
 he asked, I learned by accident of his behavior toward 
 a young lady very near to me. He had behaved 
 toward her in such a manlier that any court of honor 
 upon learning the facts of the ease would have been 
 obliged to decree his dismissal from the army in 
 disgrace. From that moment I was no longer able to 
 see in Herr von Willberg a cavalier and a man of 
 honor, and I will assist only such." 
 
 The colonel was all ears for what George had to 
 say. The affair was most disagreeable. Nobody 
 could tell what else would come to light. He would 
 have preferred not -to inquire -further. But that 
 would Hot answer. He said: "You know it is, your 
 duty to report to" the council of honor dishonorable 
 actions of a comrade coming to your knowledge." 
 
 " Certainly, Colonel. Most decidedly I should have 
 done so, had I not been obliged to regard the inter- 
 ests of the young lady who would have been seriously 
 compromised by my report to the council of honor. 
 I did not believe I could assume that responsibility. 
 On the other hand, being myself connected with the 
 
FIRST-CLASS MEN 203 
 
 regiment for a comparatively short time only, I did 
 not wish to be the cause of an investigation against 
 a comrade universally liked. So I preferred to keep 
 silence at least for the time. In order to consider 
 calmly whether I could Justify my silence before my- 
 self and the corps of officers, I went on furlough. 
 Another reason for my going was that I wished to 
 avoid a meeting with Herr von Willberg in the ex- 
 cited state in which I found myself. Though I can 
 control myself pretty well, a quarrel between me and 
 the dead would have resulted, and a duel would have 
 deemed Herr von Willberg still capable of entering 
 an honorable combat." 
 
 " Lieutenant Winkler ! " the coloiiel broke out 
 aghast. " An officer of my regiment, a member of an 
 ancient noble family, not capable of entering an 
 honorable combat ! Pray consider what you are say- 
 ing." 
 
 " I do. Colonel ; it is not easy for me to make such 
 an accusation against a dead man who cannot defend 
 himself." 
 
 "Then why do you do it?" 
 
 " In order to prove to the Colonel that as a decent 
 man, I could do nothing else but refuse the money 
 to Herr von WiUberg." 
 
 That sounded so calm, so firm and distinct, so 
 candid and honest, that the commander rose and 
 shook hands with George. " I not only believe that, 
 but I am absolutely satisfied of it. As far as I can 
 Judge, you- have acted properly throughout. I thank 
 you for not having reported hastily to the council of 
 
804 PIBBT^OLASB MM 
 
 ttOnoif. An investigatioii of the council of hOnor 
 fiifedted against a comrade is never a pleasant things 
 niUGh Ife^s so in a c&se STict as this, likely to stir uj) a 
 grfeat deal Of mtid." 
 
 " A great deal," George GOndrtned, " more thafi One 
 would have thought possiblei" 
 
 " Then we'd better let the mattSf rest," the eoin- 
 mandef dedded. " Willberg has expiated his pilt 
 with his death, you ate pledged to sed*6<g^,' let the 
 secret remain between the two of you." 
 
 After ft few more questions, the colonel dismissed 
 George, and turned to his aide-de-camp: "DgftJ 
 Count, what do you think of it ? " 
 
 CoTiflt Wettbotn deliberately polished bis filOnocle, 
 then said : " I can't help it, dear Colonel, but I find 
 Winkle* has behaved bladi^lessly during the whole 
 affair/' 
 
 "Entirely my own view. It's very fortundte^ 
 though, that he mttst not speak. The less said about 
 ibe dead, the better. I ftlmost hear In advance the 
 queries of the Brigade and Division, how Willberg 
 could lead such a life without my knowing it. Be 
 eareful, under certain conditions this affaif Slight 
 break both of lis, for yOu would be tepfoaehed with 
 not keeping me informed about thfe dbiags of the 
 officefS^ pa.*titful&rly in So far as Willberg's aetitos 
 were eoacefned; I ean't busy myself with evety in- 
 dividual lieutehant, I dah't wfttCh each separately as 
 to whethef he lives tvithin hi6 means or not. That's 
 what you're here for, dear Count, it is iot yOtl to 
 caution the youhgfe:!^ comrades if they are too feasy- 
 
FIRST-CLASS MEN. 205 
 
 going. When you see that your words are of ho 
 avail, then you have to report to me, so that I may 
 take steps against the gentlemen in question.'' 
 
 The colonel was much excited. He was seriously 
 afraid of being dismissed from the army. When the 
 papers published the sensational article about little 
 Willberg, he had been commanded to report to His 
 Majesty. His Majesty had been so ungracious that 
 the colonel felt very uncomfortable indeed. His 
 Majesty had said in plain words : " I must hold my 
 regimental commanders responsible for the behavior 
 of their officers. If such affairs as this take place, 
 it is not only a disgrace to the regiment, which has 
 always enjoyed my special good will and favor, it is 
 a disgrace to the whole army." 
 
 The colonel could only ofEer the excuse that little 
 Willberg had always been able to deceive not only 
 him but the whole body of officers. To some extent 
 that assuaged His Majesty's anger. " But the affair 
 is a scandal for all that." The commander had been 
 dismissed ungraciously, and still trembled for his 
 career. The aide-de-camp succeeded in calming him. 
 If the colonel was to be dismissed, it would have been 
 done by this time. Since the commander had already 
 reported to His Majesty, it was now entirely incon^ 
 sequential what the Brigade and the Division would 
 say. No harm would come to the colonel nor to him- 
 self. He personally could not be held responsible 
 in any way. Yet he was glad that George was pledged 
 to secrecy; otherwise more gambling stories might 
 have come to light. It might have broken him, if it 
 
206 FIRST- GLASS MEN. 
 
 had become known that he in his capacity as aide- 
 de-camp of the regiment not only tolerated gambling 
 at the casino, but actually arranged for it in a way; 
 The count was glad that the affair should end in 
 smoke, and he resolved to say a good word to the 
 lieutenants for George on the next occasion that 
 offered itself, telling them : " Winkler behaved fault- 
 lessly. Of course I do not wish to influence you, but 
 I leave it to you to consider whether you ought not to 
 be a little more friendly toward him in the future." 
 
 On one of the following days the coulit addressed 
 his comrades in a carefully prepared speech ; but he 
 made little impression. What Winkler had done any- 
 body else might have done in his place. Was there 
 anything remarkable about it? It was really not at 
 all correct to make accusations without proving them. 
 He ought to have told all or nothing. 
 
 Such were the reflections of the comrades. The 
 count listened to these remarks amazed and embar- 
 rassed. At last he grew serious. " Gentlemen, I can 
 only repeat that according to the judgment of the 
 colonel and my own, Winkler has -behaved blame- 
 lessly. If you believe there is the least reason for 
 proceeding against Winkler, you are entirely mis- 
 taken. I can only urge you not to hint even to Wink- 
 ler the views you just now confided to me. Conse- 
 quences you would not like would be the inevitable 
 result. I beg of you to remember this." 
 
 The gentlemen did remember, but what the count 
 told them did not contribute toward changing their 
 sentiments in regard to Winkler. Formerly the latter 
 
FIB8T-CLA8S MEN, 307 
 
 was only in their way; now they began to hate him. 
 It was distasteful to them that George, an outsider, 
 from whom they had tried to keep aloof, should know 
 more of Willberg's life than they did ; that he should 
 know dishonorable facts about the dead, which, ac- 
 cording to the count, had better be kept from the 
 public. They felt George should speak out so that 
 they could judge whether Willberg had really done 
 such horrible thi'ngs. They would Judge him justly, 
 but also with the consideration due to one of their 
 own station. How could the count talk in that way ? 
 What he had said practically amounted to this: You 
 have every reason for being grateful to Winkler for 
 going on furlough in order to prevent a meeting with 
 Willberg, and a duel in consequence. Was that not 
 adding insult to injury? They, the noble ofBcers, 
 should be grateful to the one " Buergerlicher " among 
 them? The idea revolted them. Who could know 
 whether the motives advanced by George for his trip 
 were really of such a nature? Possibly he might 
 have said to himself : " If I see him, it will lead to 
 a duel ; " and he took his trip only because he felt sure 
 that on his return he would not find Willberg among 
 the living. Simply from cowardice he had avoided 
 the duel, had shown the white feather. Could such 
 an ofiScer be tolerated in the regiment? 
 
 The longer the comrades talked about the case, 
 the more they worked themselves into a rage. At 
 their meetings in the regimental home, wine flowed 
 freely> adding to the heat of their excited feeling. 
 
 " We must send a delegation to the colonel, mak-^ 
 
208 FIRST-GLASS MEN 
 
 ing a declaration that we refuse to remain in tlie same 
 officers' corps with Winkler. Either he or we!" 
 shouted a hoarse Voice. 
 
 Those more sensible counselled calmness. Perhaps 
 it was not as bad as that. Why should they risk their 
 own existence for Winkler's sake? Everybody knew 
 how His Majesty favored him. If it became known 
 in the highest quarters what they thought about 
 Winkler, and that they had resolved no longer to 
 wear the same uniform, possibly His Majesty would 
 take it ungraciously, all the more so since His 
 Majesty did not look upon their regiment with 
 marked favor. Better let grass grow first over Will- 
 berg's grave; afterward they could turn against 
 George. For the present, they could do nothing ex- 
 cept to show him more distinctly than before that he 
 was not welcomed as a comrade. Perhaps that would 
 cause him to bring about his own transfer. If he as 
 a " Buergerlicher " was too obtuse for that, steps 
 might be taken to force him to it. 
 
 George soon noticed the feeling which existed 
 against him. He was treated with extreme cold'ness. 
 His comrades spoke to him only when they couldn't 
 avoid it, and replied to his questions in the curtest 
 possible way. 
 
 For two weeks he endured this behavior. Then he 
 spoke to the aide-de-camp, the only officer who had 
 treated him during that time like a comrade. 
 
 "I know you would come to speak to me," said the 
 count, "I have done all I could to allay the feeling 
 existing against you among the officers. I took your 
 
MBST-OLASS MEN, 209 
 
 part and cautioned the comrades not to drive you to 
 extremes. To my regret I have not succeeded. You 
 know, without my telling you, that most of them re- 
 sent your behavior in the Willberg affair. They 
 know he tried to borrow of you, and they blame you 
 for not having given him the money. They believe 
 that possibly Willberg would Hot have been obliged 
 to commit suicide, if you had come to his assistance. 
 Whether your money would really have saved him — 
 since his gaming debt was paid — or -whether other 
 causes forced the pistol into his hand, only Willberg 
 himself could decide, and he is silent forever. I tried 
 to make the matter clear to the others, but I failed. 
 They seem to have several grudges against you." 
 
 George sat, pale as death, facing the aide-de-camp. 
 "That's it, eh? I have thought so for a long time, 
 but I never expected such reproaches from them. 
 What can I do about it?" 
 
 "I have already talked to the commander. The 
 easiest thing for you would be to move an investiga- 
 tion of the affair by the court of hoinor; only there 
 seems to be not the slightest cause for it. Perhaps 
 the sentiment against you would change if you could 
 impart to the commander and to me what you learned 
 at the last moment about Willberg, what prevented 
 you from assisting him, what caused you to make 
 such weighty accusations against him. Couldn't you 
 tell me ? If you wish, I would keep silence about it, 
 though it would be the most natural thing, and the 
 best if everybody could Imow all." 
 
 "I must reserve my decision on that point. For 
 
310 FIRST-CLASS MENi 
 
 the present I have only permission to tell you what 
 I know if I deem it absolutely necessary. I now 
 believe that for my own sake I must break my 
 silence." He told Count Wettborn all that Olga had 
 confided to him. 
 
 The aide-de-camp listened attentively. When 
 George had finished, the count sat silent for a time. 
 
 " May I ask what you think about it, Count ? " 
 
 The latter still remained silent. Suddenly he 
 sprang to his feet. " For shame ! " He shook him- 
 self with disgust, and repeated : " For shame ! " 
 
 George had felt convinced from the beginning of 
 the correctness of his action; yet now he breathfed 
 a sigh of relief. " Then you understand that I could 
 not give him the money ? " 
 
 The count quickly turned toward him. "Under- 
 stand? Of course, it goes without saying that — 
 this " — he seemed to grope for some epithet applic- 
 able to Willberg, but refrained at the last moment : " I 
 think it is easily comprehensible that you could not 
 assist him under such circumstances, and that every- 
 body will share my view. I can appreciate with you 
 and the youUg lady how painful it would be to let the 
 story become known. Still, you need not give the 
 name of the party concerned." 
 
 " I don't believe I would get permission to do that. 
 I'll assume the responsibility of asking you to ac- 
 quaint the commander with the facts. Perhaps he 
 can then talk to the gentlemen, and tell them he is 
 fully informed, and finds my course of action entirely 
 correct. That might bring about the result desired." 
 
FIBST-CLA88 MEN 211 
 
 "It must. I shall ask the commander to talk to 
 the gentlemen severely. If they won't come to their 
 senses voltuntarily, they must be brought up with a 
 round turn. Be assured the commander and I will 
 do for you whatever we can." 
 
 « I thank you." 
 
 The aide-de-camp turned to go, and extended his 
 hand to George on taking leave. It was the first time 
 the couht had shaken hands with him. It was the 
 first friendly act George had encountered for a long 
 while; it was the first time that anybody had spoken 
 to him with warmth and cordiality, and taken his 
 part. It meant no material change so far, but for all 
 that he felt better and happier. It gave him great 
 satisfaction to know that his action was appreciated 
 as entirely correct. 
 
 Olga could hardly recognize him when he came to 
 her in the evening. Lately she had been to see him 
 almost every day, because he remained at home even- 
 ing after evening, brooding over the outcome of his 
 plight. He had not accepted any invitations. He had 
 lived by himself and written long letters to his parents 
 about his troubles. He felt the need to tell his people, 
 but when the letters were written, Olga invariably 
 threw them into the stove. " Your parents can neither 
 help nor advise you. Why should you excite and 
 trouble them needlessly," she told him when she 
 destroyed his first letter. He admitted that she was 
 right. 
 
 To-day she inquired immediately whether he had 
 written his usual letter of complaint, and wouldn't 
 
312 FIRST-GLASS MEN, 
 
 believe him when he replied he had not written at all. 
 
 " What in the world has happened ? " 
 He told of his conversation with the aide-de-camp, 
 and finally asked : '' May everybody know how Wills- 
 berg has behaved toward yon ? " 
 
 Olga sat long in deep meditation. At last she 
 said : " I love you very much, and if it would help 
 you, I would gladly give you permission to speak 
 frankly. But it wouldn't be wise, not for your own 
 sake. Whose concern is it if we two associate to- 
 gether ? Everybody knows that a young lieutenant is 
 not a chaste Joseph ; but it isn't necessary to cry from 
 the housetops that such an attachment exists. Th0 
 world need not know the name of the woman, nor 
 what has happened to her. Some people would blame 
 you for associating with me; why should you expose 
 yourself to such attacks?" 
 
 He kissed her on the forehead. '* You are right, as 
 you always are. The whole city would at once know 
 of our relations, and I would be the subject of 
 criticism." 
 
 Suddenly he thought how Hildegarde would rer 
 ceive such news. He had seen her only olice since his 
 return, but his thoughts had been with her every day. 
 l^ow her image rose distinctly in his mind. 
 
 " George, what makes you think so seriously ? " 
 
 He started from his meditation, Olga stood laugk- 
 ing before him. 
 
 "Did you forget me altogether? For a whole 
 minute you were lost in thought. What were you 
 thinking of?" 
 
fIBST-OLASS MEN 213 
 
 He did not tell her. " Don't be angry/' he begged, 
 "my thoughts were a-travelling." 
 
 " To beautiful Paris ? " 
 
 Involuntarily he smileS. "Not altogether, for 
 now they are again with you." And tenderly he drew 
 her to hinii 
 
IX. 
 
 A meeting of the ofiSeers had been held. All the 
 gentlemen of the regiment, with the exception of 
 Lieutenant Winkler, were ordered to attend. The 
 colonel on that occasion handled his lieutenants with- 
 out gloves. He was in a state of irritation, constantly 
 fearing his dismissal. He was not disposed to have 
 another scandal among his officers; such a scandal 
 was inevitable if they did not change their behavior 
 toward Winkler. As far as he was justified in doing 
 so, he enlightened them about the Willberg affair, 
 assuring them that George had behaved in such a 
 blameless manner that he might serve as an example 
 to others. At first the commander intended to send 
 a delegation of three lieutenants to George, to convey 
 to him an expression of confidence on behalf of their 
 comrades, and to ask his forgiveness for their unjust 
 suspicions. In a long conversation with his aide-de 
 camp, the question was considered whether definite 
 satisfaction was not due to George. The aide-de- 
 camp had persuaded him that to go too far would 
 result in more harm than good. If the commander 
 were to insist on an official apology by the others, their 
 excited minds would not be calmed, but only irritated 
 anew. Anger would burst again into flame, the pil- 
 grimage of penitence would be felt a great humilia- 
 tion, the more so because George was only " Cuerget- 
 
FIB8T-CLA88 MEN 315 
 
 lich." It would always be painful for the nobility to 
 own to a " Buergerlicher '/ : I have wronged you. 
 The colonel finally accepted that view. So he only 
 addressed the officers with great emphasis, closing 
 with the words : " I have ordered Count Wettbom to 
 report to me daily how you behave toward Winkler. 
 If I hear of a single complaint, if I learn that any 
 one of you does not conduct himself in the future as I 
 desire, I shall see to it that the party concerned will 
 find himself within three days in a frontier garrison. 
 My word upon that." 
 
 That brought relief, at least in so far that thereafter 
 the comrades no longer dared to offend Winkler 
 openly or to talk about him irritatingly. Their senti- 
 ments had not changed nor grown more amiable be- 
 cause of the commander's censure, but they kept their 
 own counsel and maintained a kind of outward cour- 
 tesy toward George without becoftiing really friendly. 
 What was offered to George in the way of comrade- 
 ship was little enough, yet it was more than he had 
 dared to hope after his recent experiences. The pres- 
 ent behavior of his comrades filled him with a certain 
 satisfaction. In his good nature he almost regretted 
 that the gentlemen had to listen for his sake to so much 
 severe admonition. In his demeanor and in his asso- 
 ciation with them he did not betray his thoughts. He 
 remained courteous and amiable, just as he had been 
 from the beginning. He took pains to act as if he had 
 not the remotest inkling of the transactions during 
 the officers' meeting. Officially he knew nothing about 
 it, for Count Wettbom did not deem it proper to give 
 
m P1RBT-GLA88 MEM 
 
 him direct information as to how the other gfentleitl^tt 
 had been harangued ior his sake. That would have 
 been too much like a humiliation of the nobilitj- before 
 the " Buergerlicher *' class. George continued tO play 
 the role of the man Who did not know. He did not 
 ref pf to the misirust they had shown him before ; he 
 did not cherish toy resentment. He remained mod- 
 est, he did not pose as a man brilliantly justiiied, or 
 as a man Who had been entirely cleared from unjust 
 accusations, and Whose adversaries had been put down, 
 with unrelenting censure. Upon the more sensible ele- 
 ment among the officers George's wise behavior made 
 a certain impression. 
 
 Though George in no way showed it, he noticed 
 that a certain reversion of sentiment on his behaJf 
 was slowly taking place. He spoke -to Olga about it. 
 In the letters to his parents he reported that he would 
 shortly 'be happy and. contented. None too soon, for 
 he had now been more than a year with the Yellow 
 Butterflies. He felt he had become an entirely 
 changed being. His naturally sunny temperament 
 gained the upper hand again^ his Cheerful disposition 
 threw off the dark thoughts itrhieh had lateljr crot?ded 
 upon him. 
 
 He attended to his duties virith more zest than befof ^. 
 His captain had gone away for a feW days, the ^rst 
 lieutenant was likewise on furlough for a time, arid 
 since nothing of great consequence in the wa^ of 
 service was expected, George had been entrusted with 
 the command of the company. 
 
 This iaorning the company had practiced target 
 
FIBST^OL'ASS. MEN) ni 
 
 shooting] then there "was gun revision. At first 
 George had left that semce to the sergeant-major; 
 bnt at the last moment he felt it his duty to be pres' 
 ejttt. He appeared quite unexpectedly, The com- 
 pany stood drawn up in the corridor. As Gepjrge 
 ascended the stairs he heard from above such a loud 
 cursing and scolding that he hastened his steps, 
 
 The shout : " The Herr Lieutenant is cording ! " 
 caused a dead silence. The sergeant-major hastened 
 toward him to report. 
 
 ^^ Sergeant-major, what is np ? Don't you knovr 
 how the captain insists on a good tone in the com- 
 pany ? I should not like to make any change during 
 his absence. What has happened ? " 
 
 " Nothing, Herr Lieutenant, The Herr Lieutenant 
 knows himself how the voice resounds in the corridor 
 if one talks a little louder than usual. One has to do 
 that in order to be understood at all. Possibly I may 
 have spoken rudely to some fellow whose gun was not 
 cleaned well." 
 
 " You had better not grow rude, but rather make a 
 note of it and have the man present his gun again 
 for inspection.'' 
 
 *' Eight, Herr Lieutenant." 
 
 George and the sergeant-major stood somewhat 
 away from the company. ISTow he dismissed the ser- 
 geant-major : *' Go on inspecting the gun§." 
 
 The sergeant-major went back to his place and 
 George walked slowly along the line, looking at the 
 men's uniforms. Suddenly he stopped in front of a 
 man : " Petersen, what have you been up to ? " 
 
218 FIRST-CLASS MEN, 
 
 The soldier's eye showed a heavy swelling, and his 
 forehead a large bruise, which prevented him from 
 wearing his cap in the proper position. 
 
 " You look horrible ; how did it happen ? " George 
 asked. 
 
 " I fell, Herr Lieutenant." 
 
 "Where?" 
 
 " On the stairs." 
 
 "I always said you lame fellows could not even 
 walk and still imagined that you could march in 
 parade," George jested. Such harmless fun was 
 usually appreciated by his men. They liked being 
 teased a little about their own awkwardness. His 
 words fell flat to-day; Petersen did not laugh, the 
 comrades standing around did not move a muscle 
 of their faces. George was struck by that, but for 
 the moment did not consider it further. He turned 
 to go, when he accidentally saw Corporal von Mssen, 
 who stood in the window only three paces distant, 
 looking at Petersen with eyes so threatening that 
 even George started involuntarily. 
 
 In a flash he understood the whole case. The in- 
 stinct which had prejudiced him from the beginning 
 against that non-commissioned officer had not deceived 
 him. The discovery occupied him to such an extent 
 he did not clearly realize the consequences as he re- 
 turned to the soldier and put him through a cross- 
 examination: "When did you fall? Who was with 
 you ? Did you go to have your wound attended to by 
 the hospital assistant? Who was there when you re- 
 turned ? " He could not get anything out of the man. 
 
FIBST-CLA8S MENi 219 
 
 He had fallen. Nobody had seen it. He had not 
 told anybody in order not to be laughed at for his 
 awkwardness. 
 
 "What do you know about it^ Corporal von Ms- 
 sen?" said George, suddenly turning to the latter; 
 "you. are the corporal, you are responsible for your 
 men. Why didn't you send the man to have his 
 wound dressed ? It looks horrible." 
 
 Von Nissen still looked at the man with burning 
 eyes. " I don't know anything about it, Herr Lieu- 
 tenant; I discovered the injury only just before the 
 inspection, when it was too late to send him to the 
 hospital assistant." 
 
 George knew the corporal lied, but from reasons 
 of discipline and subordination he did not wish to 
 charge him with falsehood in the presence of the 
 men ; so he took Petersen aside. " You show me the 
 spot where you fell on the stairs." 
 
 A clever liar would have taken George somewhere 
 and simply told him : Here is the place, Herr Lieuten- 
 ant. But this soldier was not sufSciently versed in 
 the art of dissimulation and hypocrisy. He did not 
 know whether to go to the right or to the left. George 
 took him in hand once more. " I'll tell you what, 
 Petersen; you know me, and you know that I mean 
 well to all of you, even closing an eye whenever possi- 
 ble. But if you tell me a pack of lies and make a 
 fool of me now, I, too, can grow harsh and rude. I 
 warrant you, you won't enjoy it, if you learn that side 
 of my character. Out with it, I pledge you no harm 
 shall come to you. Where did you fall ? " 
 
220 FinBT-CI^'ASS MMN\ 
 
 Petersen stood in inward struggle. At lajsi; Ij^ said: 
 'a didn't faU at all." 
 
 " Instead — ^what has happened ? " 
 
 '' Corporal von Hissea striiek me pn tl^e hea^ Tvith 
 a cooking pot." 
 
 George was indignant, though he had not doqhted 
 from the heginsing that the matter had come ahout in 
 some such way. Even now he would not and could 
 not betray his sentiments toward his suhordina^; so 
 he only said : " That's it ? All rjghtj step back to the 
 ranks." 
 
 The man remained standing at atteptiop before hjs 
 lieutenant without stirring. 
 
 "Have you something else on your niind?" 
 George asked. "You know, Petersen, yon are not 
 permitted under the rules to make a complaint against 
 the corporal tO'-day. Only to-morrow you way do 
 that. Otherwise yon yourself are liable to pnnjsl^ 
 ment." 
 
 ^^ Eight, Herr Lieutenant ; I do not wisli to niak? a 
 complaint." 
 
 " What else do you want? " 
 
 The soldier, a big, strong, sturdy fellow, was trem^ 
 bling all over. 
 
 " Speak up, man; you may have ponfldencg in me. 
 What else do you want ? " 
 
 " I should like to beg the Lieutenant l^uflibly, not to 
 tell the corporal I told the truth to, the Hery Lient^ftf 
 ant, else the corporal will thrash me this orening, and 
 will compel the comrades to strike me with tte^p 
 whips." 
 
FIBST-^CLASS MENi 331 
 
 Invdltrntarily George mbVed back a step. " How doj 
 you come tci say that ? That's only your imagination. 
 How ean you insinuate such a thing about your su- 
 perior ? " He spoke against his own eonyictiori^ but 
 the interests of the service reqilired him even now to 
 defend the superior. Later on there would be occar 
 sioB to bring the whole trlith to the light of day. 
 
 Pet6ri§6n still trembled. " We know the Herr Cor^ 
 poM thoroughly. Last week Private Meyer wanted 
 to complain because the Herr Corporal knocked Out 
 two of hife tfeeth. The corJ)oral learned of it and 
 strtiek him With the whip until the blood beigan to 
 flow; and we had to assist in striking the pool^ fel- 
 low." 
 
 " How could you do such a thing ? " 
 
 "The Herr Corporal threatehed tts he would see 
 we got no Sunday leave. He teased afad plagued us 
 until at last we got ehraged and struck at Meyer 
 again and again, until he could no longsi* move." 
 
 "Well, and then?" George inquired, hatdl^ able 
 to contain himself in his indignation. 
 
 " Then the Herr Corporal fetched an,old Bible and 
 Meyer had to swear on the Bible that he would not 
 make a complaint. The Heri? Corporal told Meyer 
 that If he doaplaillfid noW he would be a perjhrer and 
 be sent to stats'* prison for false swearing." 
 
 660rg& was Beside hiffisfelf a* what he heard; yet 
 he said witb Apparent composnre ; " It ii well. Step 
 back to the auks." 
 
 still Petersen remained standing, and asked with 
 
332 FIRST-CLASS MEN 
 
 tears in his voice, " The Herr Lieutenant will surely 
 not say anything to the Herr Corporal ? " 
 
 " I can't promise that, but I warrant you that Cor- 
 poral von Mssen will do no bodily injury to you this 
 evening. He won't harm you any more. Are you 
 satisfied ? " 
 
 Petersen shook his head. "Then the other non- 
 commissioned officers will do it. They are all in with 
 the Herr Corporal. They are not all as bad, but they 
 all strike us." 
 
 George did not seem to have heard the last words. 
 " Calm yourself. Nothing will happen to you to-day. 
 I myself shall remain in the barracks all night watch- 
 ing out. I hope you are satisfied." 
 
 " Very well, Herr Lieutenant." 
 
 Petersen stepped back to the ranks, and George, 
 too, was on the point of returning to the company 
 when he saw Corporal von Nissen standing nearby, 
 evidently waiting for the moment when he could 
 have speech with him. As soon as George was alone, 
 the corporal advanced toward him. 
 
 "What do^you want with me?" George asked, 
 curtly. 
 
 Nissen tried in vain to hide his disquiet and 
 anxiety, his restless eyes wandering more than usual. 
 
 " What do you want ? " George repeated. 
 
 The corporal made an unsuccessful effort to control 
 his voice ; it was perceptibly unsteady when he spoke : 
 " I only wanted to beg the Herr Lieutenant humbly — 
 I can imagine what Petersen told the Herr Lieuten- 
 ant — I wish to beg him humbly not to believe Peter- 
 
FIB8T-CLA88 MEN.: 323 
 
 sen. He is the biggest liar and slanderer in the com- 
 pany. The Herr Captain knows it. He has given me 
 orders to keep an eye on Petersen, who is a social 
 democrat in disguise. His comrades know it. The 
 Herr Lieutenant may ask the whole company. They 
 all wUl tell him the same thing : Petersen lies." 
 
 George's face showed contempt. Petersen's every 
 word proved clearly that he told the truth. While 
 George was talking to the private, Mssen was busy 
 influencing his men and threatening them with more 
 violence if they would not represent Petersen as a 
 liar. A sense of immense disgust and loathing for 
 the corporal who could lay hands on a defenceless 
 inferior filled George ; he despised him most of all for 
 the eifort to lie out of his guilt when caught. So he 
 said: "Not merely vulgar and despicable, but cow- 
 ardly too? Pfuili' 
 
 The corporal grew pale, but made another effort to 
 clear himself. " The Herr Lieutenant knows how the 
 Herr Captain thinks of me; the Herr Captain has 
 told the Herr Lieutenant himself. When the Herr 
 Captain returns from his furlough he will speak to 
 the Herr Lieutenant about me, then the Herr Lieu- 
 tenant will perceive that he is wronging me greatly." 
 
 The infamous character of these hints was plain 
 enough to George. He was reminded of the morning 
 when the Captain had spoken rudely to him for the 
 sake of this same corporal. He could perceive dis- 
 tinctly how Nissen looked forward with secret joy 
 to the day when George would be rebuked a second 
 time for doubting a splendid corporal. The veins 
 
224 FIBST'GLASa MM: 
 
 on George's forehead began to swell with anger. He 
 controlled himself with A great effori "Corporal 
 von Nisseh, Whether I wrong yon ot not will be de- 
 termined later on. For thd preseot time yoii appear 
 to flie as more than suspected of repeated ill-treat- 
 ment of your inferiors." 
 
 Nissen tried to defend himself agai&, When the 
 sergeant-ma jbr appeared and reported tha,t the in- 
 spection of the guns was finished. 
 
 "Good you are here, SergeaSt-Majof," Ge^fg^ 
 turned to hiih, and added with a clear,- firm toicef 
 " Sergealit-'Major, take off the sword of Corporal von 
 Nissen d,nd lead him to prison as an accused." 
 
 The Oorporal grew pale and staggered back. 
 
 " Well^ Sergeant-Major, why don't yOu proceed ? " 
 George askedy as the other hesitated to eatry out the 
 order, " didn't you understand me ?«'* 
 
 " At your service, Herr Lieutenant," the sergeant- 
 major answered, with hesitation, " I only thought of 
 what the Herr Captain would say on leatning of it." 
 
 Involuntarily George laid his hand on his sword. 
 " DonnerWetter, Sergeant-Major, do I command the 
 company or do you ? I want yoUr aUsWet/' 
 
 " The Herr Lieutenant." 
 
 "It is well you perceive that. You now either 
 place the corporal Under arrest, or else I punish you 
 for disobedience of orders." 
 
 Such energetic language had its effect.- The ser- 
 geantt'major offered no further tesistance. "Take 
 off your sword, Corpdral von Nissen." 
 
FIMT'CLASS MEN. 325 
 
 The latter meehaiiically tmeoupled his belt and let 
 his sword drop to the ground. 
 
 The sergeant-major picked it np. " Come along." 
 
 With shaking knees, without raising his eyes again, 
 the corporal descended the stairs with the sergeant- 
 major. A moment later George saw the two walk 
 across the courtyard. Then both disappeared in the 
 military jail, situated in the farthermost right-hand 
 corner of the great courtyard of the barracks. 
 
 George began to realize what he ha,d done. Por a 
 second doubts rose within him whether after all he 
 had not acted rashly, without due consideration. He 
 called Private Meyer, told him the story as Petersen 
 had given it, and asked him upon his honor and con- 
 science whether it was true. 
 
 " Did you have to swear ? " 
 
 " Yes, Herr Lieutenant." 
 
 " Were you beaten ? " 
 
 " I can still show it to the Herr Lieutenant." 
 
 Evidently the men had seen that the corporal had 
 been taken to jail, else they would not have dared to 
 speak so freely. ^ 
 
 " Show it to me." 
 
 The man took off his breeches. His body showed 
 plainly large blue welts filled with blood, raised by the 
 strokes of the whips. 
 
 " That's enough." 
 
 The man dressed again. In spite of the traces of 
 cruel ill-treatment he had thus found, George had a 
 sensation almost of joy. It was plain he had not 
 
226 FIR8T-0LAS8. MEN 
 
 wronged the corporal, whose guilt was clearly estab- 
 lished. 
 
 Soon the sergeant-major returned. " Order is ex- 
 ecuted." 
 
 "Thanks. Let the men disband, I only want to 
 speak to the non-commissioned officers." 
 
 A moment later they stood before the lieutenant in 
 a semi-circle. George let them stand at attention pur- 
 posely in order to give more emphasis to what he had 
 to say. " Let me inform you first that I have sent 
 Corporal von Nissen to jail for flagrant ill-treatment 
 of his subordinates. As usual, this came to light to- 
 day through an accident only. If I had remained 
 away from the Appell, as I originally intended, I 
 should probably never have known anything about it. 
 This infamous business — such incredible doings can't 
 be called otherwise — ^would have gone on without in- 
 terference. Hints have come to me that many non- 
 commissioned officers are in the same boat with von 
 Mssen. I don't know whether that means you knew 
 of his ill-treatment of soldiers without reporting the 
 facts, or whether you, too, have laid hands on your 
 men. I do not propose to investigate any further for 
 the present. That will be the business of the court 
 later on. To-day I only wish to say to you that each 
 of you who does not feel entirely free from guilt 
 ought to be ashamed of himself from the bottom of 
 his heart. I am the last man to find fault with 
 an officer who is so carried away by anger at the 
 stupidity or obstinacy of a subordinate as to strike or 
 push a single time. It ought not to be done, cer- 
 
FIB8T-CLA8S MEN 221 
 
 tainly, but we are all human and liable to forget our- 
 selves occasionally. Our naen know it and don't 
 take amiss a blow they receive in consequence of sud- 
 den irritation. They know no real harm is meant. 
 They also know that later on, when they are ordered 
 to drill recruits, they may poke a man's ribs once in 
 a while without meaning real harm. But there is an 
 immense difference between forgetting himself in the 
 zeal of duty and deliberate and cold-blooded ill-treat- 
 ment of subordinates. The first is human, the second 
 contemptible. Corporal von N"issen and every other 
 man guilty of such offences will be punished according 
 to his deserts. Now I want to speak to you briefly 
 about another matter. I have been informed that the 
 men fear being alone with you M;o-night at the bar- 
 racks. They apprehend you might take your revenge 
 on them because I sent Corporal von Nissen to jail. 
 It is a fine testimony for you that the men are afraid 
 instead of having confidence in you. You have every 
 reason to be proud of it." 
 
 These words were surcharged with irony, and 
 George continued : " I will assume for your sake that 
 those fears are without cause. I have promised that 
 none among you will lay hands on a man. Therefore 
 I order the sergeant-major and the vice-sergeant- 
 major to patrol the quarters of the men steadily from 
 now on until bedtime, and to relieve each other every 
 two hours. All doors must remain open the whole 
 night. At nine o'clock I myself shall be on watch. 
 That's what I wished to tell you." 
 
 The non-commissioned officers were dismissed. 
 
338 FIRST-GLASS MEN. 
 
 While he was speaking George had semtinized their 
 faces carefully. Many of them had changed color, 
 some of them endeavored to act as if the whole matter 
 did not concern them, as if they felt free of any 
 guilt. But he had the impression that only a few of 
 them had an absolutely clear conscience. 
 
 Accompanied by the sergeant-major, George went 
 to the office of the company to prepare his report 
 about Corporal von Nissen and to hand the document 
 over to the battalion. It would then be forwarded to 
 the regiment, and, considering the gravity of the case, 
 ■would reach superiors higher up. George had sent 
 away the private detailed to work as clerk, and now 
 turned to the sergeant-major. He was horrified over 
 what he had seen and heard, and spoke frankly. 
 " Tell me, Sergeant-Major, how can such a thing be 
 possible? How is it thinkable that such doings can 
 go on for weeks without anybody knowing of it? Did 
 you never know anything of it? You live with the 
 men on the same corridor, you must have passed 
 through the rooms many times, by day as well as in the 
 evening. Did you never notice anything suspicious ? " 
 
 Por answer the sergeant-major shrugged his shoul- 
 ders. 
 
 "What does that imply?" George asked. "You 
 don't mean to say that the whole thing is entirely new 
 to you ? " 
 
 "Not exactly that," the sergeant-major replied, 
 after a moment. " Since the matter will have to come 
 up any way, I may as well talk reasonably. I shall be 
 
FIRST-CLASS MEN 339 
 
 called as a witness in the investigation, and I must 
 tell under oath all I know." 
 
 " And what do you know ? " 
 
 " Strictly speaking, not much, Herr Lieutenalit. I 
 can swear with a clear conscience that I never saw 
 or heard anything. I can also swear no man ever 
 came to me to make a complaint. None ever wanted 
 to complain officially. I myself should have been 
 liable to punishment had I suppressed a matter of 
 complaint reported to me in the course of duty with- 
 out forwarding it to the higher authorities." 
 
 "Certainly; and you have an entirely clear con- 
 science ? " 
 
 The sergeant-major meditated for a moment. " I 
 do believe, Herr Lieutenant, the court cannot do any- 
 thing to me. That's the main thing for an old soldier 
 who will complete his twelve years of service within a 
 few months and will then be entitled to an allowance 
 of a thousand marks and to a place in the government 
 civil service." 
 
 " It seems the main thing as far as the outside 
 world is concerned," said George. " Still your words 
 indicate that you do not feel entirely guiltless in your 
 conscience." 
 
 "I believe I do, Herr Lieutenant. As I said, I 
 never saw or heard anything, but I had my misgiv- 
 ings that everything was not right with the men 
 under Corporal von Mssen. Ever so many times 
 one of his men either fell and injured himself, or ran 
 up in the darkness against some object and was hurt. 
 I had Mssen before me and asked him : ' You don't 
 
230 FIRST-CLASS MEN 
 
 beat your men?' Of course he always answered in 
 the negative. I might have taken an oath that he 
 was lying, but what could I do? Should I interro- 
 gate the men behind the corporal's back? Perhaps 
 that might have been the best thing to do, but dis- 
 cipline and subordination are giving way dreadfully 
 even without such action. Good Lord, in former 
 days you could do anything with the fellows. You 
 could twist them around your little finger, but now 
 it's enough to make an old soldier shed tears. What 
 little authority we have saved in spite of biennial 
 service is undermined and destroyed by the news- 
 papers with their d talk about the degrading 
 
 treatment of subordinates. Under such conditions, 
 you can't blame an old soldier for not doing more 
 than is absolutely required of him toward bringing 
 such stories to light." 
 
 Greorge partly assented. " Yet it is hardly right." 
 "I know, Herr Lieutenant, but what good would 
 it have done to me had I reported the matter officially 
 when I myself had no official knowledge of it? My 
 capitulation would not have been renewed, I should 
 not have received my thousand marks, and I would 
 have been left to look out for my own future. It 
 would not have meant official punishment for me 
 that my capitulation was not renewed. On the con- 
 trary, I should have received faint official praise. But 
 none of my superiors would have thanked me for 
 forcing the discussion of these matters without being 
 absolutely compelled to take such action." 
 
 George could only agree with the sergeant-majof^ 
 
FIRST-CLASS MEN 231 
 
 and for the first time the thought struck him : " How 
 will you be thanked for reporting this scandal ? " 
 
 " I am a married man," the sergeant-major contin- 
 ued; "the Herr Lieutenant knows I have two chil- 
 dren. One does not like to be thrown into the street 
 suddenly with his family. It is horribly hard for fel- 
 lows like me to find suitable employment. Old non- 
 commissioned officers with their certificates for civil 
 service often run around for a year and a day in idle- 
 ness, because every^ .calling is crowded. Therefore 
 one stays in the service as long as possible, instead of 
 twelve years, twenty, and sometimes longer. There is, 
 at least, the position, the salary, the quarters. All 
 that is not to be jeopardized without absolute compul- 
 sion. In self-interest and in the interest of one's ex- 
 istence one must close an eye wherever possible. It 
 was possible in my case." 
 
 "Did you ever speak to the Herr Captain about 
 Nissen?" 
 
 " Often enough, Herr Lieutenant. Eepeatedly I 
 hinted to him that it seemed to me as if Nissen did 
 not treat his men right." 
 
 " And what did the Herr Captain reply ? " George 
 asked eagerly. 
 
 " The first time he laughed at me, later on he grew 
 rude to me. The Herr Lieutenant knows that Nissen 
 is to become sergeant-major later on ; so that the cap- 
 tain thought I was already jealous of my successor. 
 I really had no cause for that, since Nissen must 
 first become a sergeant, then a vice-sergeant-major, 
 before he can take my place or that of any of my 
 
232 FIB8T-CLA88 MEN 
 
 coUeagiies. I explained that to the captain, but he 
 still thought I was jealous, particularly because he, 
 the captain, favored Mssen. He admonished me to 
 regard Nissen with just eyes, and not always to find 
 fault with him. After that I held my peace. Only 
 once did I again speak to the captain, calling at- 
 tention to a man's reddened cheek that showed plainly 
 the slap the fellow had received. Of coxirse he was 
 one of Nissen's men." 
 
 "Did the Herr Captain take the corporal to ac- 
 count ? " 
 
 "I don't think so, Herr Lieutenant.. The Herr 
 Captain only asked me whether I had never boxed a 
 man's ears. WeU, I couldn't swear to that, where- 
 upon the captain said I should not complain to him 
 about Nissen for an act I had once committed my- 
 self." 
 
 George grew meditative. "Pray tell me, Ser- 
 geant-Major, do you believe the Herr Captain knew 
 how Mssen treated his men ? " 
 
 "!N"ot exactly that, Herr Lieutenant, for Mssen 
 was always very cautious. He rarely struck the men 
 in the face ; externally the ill-treatment never showed. 
 I cannot understand how he could be so careless to- 
 day and be carried away to such an extent as to strike 
 Petersen on the head. No, I don't believe the captain 
 knew anything about it, but I often wondered that 
 he granted Mssen so much power over the men. If 
 one of them had to report for punishment, or the like, 
 he had always to report to Mssen. I once complained 
 about it to the Herr Captain. I am the sergeant- 
 
FIRST-GLASS MEN 333 
 
 major, and could not tolerate silently such infringe- 
 ments of my rights and duties. It looked as if the 
 Herr Captain mistrusted me. But the Herr Captain 
 said I should not make myself ridiculous. Didn't I 
 know how much he thought of me? Didn't I have 
 work enough ? He had made the arrangement solely 
 to ease my duties and to relieve me of a portion there- 
 of. Thereupon I said to the captain there was a vice- 
 sergeant-major and the sergeant; but the Herr Cap- 
 tain replied gruffly I had better leave it to him which 
 non-commissioned officer he considered best qualified 
 to act as my representative. It depended on the in- 
 dividuality of the parties concerned, not on their 
 rank in the service." 
 
 " That's quite correct, for it always was a puzzle 
 to me why the Herr Captain protected Nissen so." 
 
 "It's no puzzle to me, Herr Lieutenant. I have 
 known the Herr Captain for many years. The Herr 
 Captain is a good soul, but susceptible to flattery. 
 Mssen understands that better than anybody else. 
 He always danced attendance upon the captain like a 
 regular courtier, trying to win his good graces. I am 
 only curious to know what the Herr Captain will say 
 when he returns from his furlough and learns the 
 whole story." 
 
 "We must not let the captain wait so long for 
 news. He commissioned me to telegraph him in case 
 anything of importance should happen in the com- 
 pany during his absence. I almost forgot it. Please 
 write down this dispatch : ' Had to send Corporal 
 von Nissen to jail pending investigation for repeated 
 
334 FIRST-CLASS MEN 
 
 ill-treatment of subordinates.' " The sergeant-major 
 wrote the dispatch and George took it to the telegraph 
 office. 
 
 The next day at noon the' captain returned from 
 his furlough. Immediately after receiving the dis- 
 patch he interrupted his trip. He was in a state of 
 irritation which George could not understand. Cer- 
 tainly the matter was unpleasant enough, but for all 
 that the captain ought to be grateful to him for ex- 
 posing existing conditions and putting an end to 
 further ill-treatment. Instead of that, the superior 
 was filled with boundless anger against George. Im- 
 mediately after his return he summoned George from 
 the barracks, and had a conversation with him dur- 
 ing which George found it well-nigh impossible to 
 control himself under the storm of reproaches with 
 which the captain overwhelmed him. "I am cer- 
 tainly far from approving all that Nissen has done; 
 but still less can I approve of your conduct, Herr 
 Lieutenant. You ought to have notified me first. I 
 should have returned forthwith and investigated the 
 matter myself. It would have been time then to pro- 
 ceed against the corporal. I cannot withhold the re- 
 proach that you have acted hastily, without fore- 
 thought. It almost looks to me as if you wished to 
 show off your dignity as leader of a company, as if 
 you had wished to boast. You knew how much I 
 thought of Nissen. You should not have proceeded 
 against him thus on your own motion out of regard 
 for me, the less so since there was no compulsory 
 motive for your action. If s an old saying that he 
 
FIRST-CLASS MEN 335 
 
 who asks many questions will get many replies. You 
 might have waited to see whether Petersen or Meyer 
 would make an ofiBcial complaint. It would have 
 been time enough then to act as you did. Possibly 
 it might have been sufficient if you had summoned 
 the corporal and talked to him, if you had threat- 
 ened to report him in case he should repeat such an 
 offence. Instead of that, you question and question 
 to your heart's content until you finally know what 
 you wanted to learn. You were always prejudiced 
 against the corporal. Now you have assuaged your 
 anger. Are you satisfied ? " 
 
 George controlled himself with a great effort. " I 
 should have proceeded against any other non-com- 
 missioned officer in precisely the same way." 
 
 The captain laughed so derisively that the blood 
 rose to George's cheeks. 
 
 "I must respectfully request you, Herr Captain, 
 not to doubt my word." 
 
 "I must emphatically remind you, Herr Lieu- 
 tenant, not to call me to account. If what I told you 
 does not please you, you have the right to make com- 
 plaint." 
 
 " At your service, Herr Captain." 
 
 The captain paced the office like a raging animal. 
 Then he stopped, his eyes bloodshot, in front of 
 George who felt a shock. He hardly recognized his 
 superior, the incarnation of calm and distinction. 
 
 "Herr Lieutenant, do you realize what you have 
 done ? " his superior growled. " I won't speak of the 
 trouble you make for me. If you did not think of me. 
 
336 nBST-GLASS MEN: 
 
 you should have thought of the regiment and of your- 
 self. The story of little Willberg is barely forgotten. 
 You hardly escaped the suspicion of not having acted 
 properly in that affair. ISTow you start a new story 
 that will be taken up by all the newspapers. The 
 whole press will attack us, the regiment will be talked 
 of everywhere. The papers will sling mud and we 
 shall have to endure it. If such a thing happens 
 in any other part of the army it isn't so bad ; but we, 
 the regiments of the guard, must make sure that noth- 
 ing finds its way into print which is not above re- 
 proach. The washing of dirty linen should take place 
 in private, I repeat, it might well have been done 
 in this case. The matter might have been disposed 
 of by a severe rebuke, and only the higher superiors 
 would have known it. You have prevented that by 
 handing in your report so hastily. Now the battalion 
 must send the matter higher up, and a public scandal 
 is inevitable. That isn't all; His Majesty, too, will 
 hear of the proceedings, and will hardly approve your 
 behavior in spite of the high favor in which you are 
 held." 
 
 "I beg pardon, if I have to contradict the Herr 
 Captain; I know precisely what His Majesty thinks 
 about the ill-treatment of soldiers." 
 
 " So do I," the superior shouted, " but it isn't 
 necessary to make a mountain out of a molehill, to 
 stir up mud by thoughtlessness." 
 
 The blood mounted to George's cheeks. "I am con- 
 scious of no guilt. If my action was wrong, I shall 
 know how to bear the consequences." 
 
FIRST-CLASS MEN, 231 
 
 The captain's face flushed also. "You will have 
 to do that, in any ease. That helps neither me nor 
 the regiment. It's entirely immaterial to us whether 
 you are dismissed or not. We have lived without you 
 hefore, and can do so again in the future. But your 
 dismissal by no means disposes of this matter." 
 
 " Possibly it may be disposed of by strict and im- 
 partial puishment of the guilty man. If the public 
 sees that such behavior must be severely expiated the 
 scandal will calm down quickly." 
 
 " You believe that ? " the eapt5tin sneered. " Well, 
 you will have occasion enough to explain and justify 
 your conduct in this affair." 
 
 George was astonished and indignant at this un- 
 just treatment. He was iirmly resolved to offer com- 
 plaint about it. He changed his mind the next morn- 
 ing when he was called to the office of the battalion 
 and that of the regiment. There also indescribable ex- 
 citement prevailed. Though his conduct and his 
 strict sense of justice were praised pro forma, he had 
 to hear things he did not expect. 
 
 "You should have realized that the public and 
 possibly the corps will not stop with the corporal. 
 They will ask: "How was such a thing possible? 
 Could it have happened had there been sufficient 
 supervision on the part of the higher officers ? You, 
 as lieutenant, should know such supervision means 
 only that we constantly admonish the non-commis- 
 sioned officers not to lay hands on their men, that we 
 remind' them of the consequences following the op- 
 posite course. We cannot be tied to every non-coni- 
 
238 FIBST-CLASS MEN 
 
 missioned officer. We can't be always inspecting the 
 men's quarters by day and night. We can't do more 
 than we are doing to prevent such ill-treatment. In 
 spite of that, we, the superiors, are held directly re- 
 sponisble. You will see how this affair will end." 
 
 The remarks of his superiors showed plainly their 
 anxiety for their own existence. Involuntarily George 
 recalled the utterance of a captain in his old regi- 
 ment : " The ill-treatment of soldiers will cease only 
 when changes are made in two directions. In the 
 first place the superiors must not be goaded by their 
 superiors, and the captain and the major must know 
 that an unfortunate inspection will not necessarily 
 break them. At present they look forward to the 
 appearance of an Excellency with fear and trembling. 
 In order to pass the inspection with some show of 
 success, they keep on drilling and drilling. The 
 major scolds the captain, the captain scolds the lieu- 
 tenants, and they in turn the non-commissioned offi- 
 cers. The -rudeness increases from grade to grade 
 downward. The non-commissioned officers would 
 have to be angels if 'they did not wreak their rage 
 upon the men who, after all, though indirectly, are the 
 cause of the trouble. If Hanson carries his gun im- 
 properly, the captain is blamed for not emphasizing 
 sufficiently the proper carriage of the guns in his 
 company. Of course the censure is unjust, as the 
 higher superior knows full well. That doesn't matter, 
 the main thing is that the captain should get worked 
 up and show his energy. To-day nobody really cares 
 for the education of the army. Each struggles for his 
 
FIRST-OLASS MEN. 239 
 
 own existence. Each feels threatened daily with dis- 
 missal, for a thousand different reasons. In order to 
 avoid that as long as possible, constant injustices are 
 committed against the subordinates of every grade. 
 The road to advancement nowadays passes over 
 corpses. This will change only when we cease to live 
 in an epoch of inspections, when we no longer work 
 merely for ourselves, but for the whole army. 
 
 " Then feelings will be calmed again. We shall no 
 longer attempt to accomplish with blows and ill-treat- 
 ment what might be achieved quicker and better by 
 kindness. 
 
 " That is one point. The second is that ill-treat- 
 ment will only cease when the superiors have courage 
 to take up all complaints and to punish what they 
 observe, either themselves, or by reporting the guilty 
 party for punishment higher up. Ifaturally such 
 courage is found only in a man who is either very 
 rich, and therefore finds it immaterial whether he 
 draws full salary or a pension, or with a man who 
 stands exceptionally well with his higher superiors, 
 and therefore says to himself : ' It won't interfere with 
 my career if the misdeeds of my non-commissioned 
 oflBcers become known, since I myself am entirely 
 innocent in the matter.' 
 
 "But the man who trembles and shivers for his 
 future naturally, says to himself: 'My position is 
 shaky anyway. If it should become known that my 
 non-commissioned ofEcers beat their men, I may as 
 well get my civilian suit ready.' Who can find fault 
 with a poor captain or a poor major for not forward- 
 
340 FIRST-CLASS MEN 
 
 ing a complaint, or for simply admonishing an offi- 
 cer whom he has caught beating his men instead of 
 meting out prompt punishment to the offender ? " 
 
 On that occasion George had agreed with his cap- 
 tain. Yet now he could not quite understand why his 
 superiors should be annoyed, because he had called 
 their attention to such marked brutalities. 
 
 " I can hear," said the colonel, " His Majesty saying 
 to me : ' First the affair with Willberg, now this still 
 greater scandal with the non-commissioned officers. 
 There are nice conditions in your regiment.' " Then 
 the commander added : " If the affair breaks my neck 
 you are the cause of it, nobody but you; I would not 
 have belicTed you would get us into such a mess." 
 
 George distinctly understood the colonel expected, 
 on the score of gratitude for having taken his part 
 recently, that he would have showed more regard for 
 the reputation of his regiment. Still George was not 
 cpnscious of any guilt. An inner voice told him that 
 he had only acted as an honorable man must. 
 
 Not only his superiors, but his comrades took it 
 amiss that he reported the matter higher in official 
 form. Not that they supported the corporal. On the 
 contrary, there were exclamations of general indigna- 
 tion when George told of the physical condition of the 
 victims. Still the officers felt that the good reputa- 
 tion of the regiment was of more consequence to them 
 than the well-being of the common soldiers. 
 
 First there had been the affair among the officers 
 themselves, now the scandal with the non-commis- 
 sioned officers — they found themselves in a fine fix. 
 
FIRST-CLASS MEN 241 
 
 Of course the verdict would be : " Nice goings-on witH 
 the Yellow Butterflies; the lieutenants shoot them- 
 selves, the non-commissioned officers beat theii* men 
 black and blue." 
 
 George noticed, too, that they felt it doubly dis- 
 agreeable because he, the only " Buergerlieher " 
 among them, had made the disclosures about the mis- 
 deeds in the company. 
 
 Thereafter he had a terrible time. His position 
 was shaken, his official life hardly endurable. His 
 captain treated him with a contempt which made it 
 scarcely possible for him to maintain his composure. 
 The first lieutenant, Freiherr von Masemann, assisted 
 his captain to the best of his ability. The Freiherr 
 shared his superior's views and considered it more 
 than ever his duty to educate George and to play the 
 schoolmaster toward him. 
 
 Meanwhile the investigation had been started, and 
 followed its regular course. The first hearing of the 
 accused had taken place. In view of the gravity of 
 the charges, the matter had to be submitted to the 
 higher authority of the division. Hearings took place 
 daily, and half the company was constantly on the 
 way to the court-room. Only too soon the whole ex- 
 tent of the abuses became plain. Among the men 
 under Corporal von Nissen there was hardly one who 
 had not been beaten by him. The corporal's assistants 
 had aided him in every way in the ill-treatment and 
 torture of the privates, induced to such course by 
 illegal favors shown to them by the corporal. Other 
 corporals had behaved as badly as von Mssenj others 
 
342 FIRST-CLASS MEN 
 
 again had misbehaved in a lesser degree. They all 
 had the same explanation to offer. " The Herr Cap- 
 tain forbade us scolding and verbal abuse; he threat- 
 ened us with the annulment of our capitulations in 
 case we should violate his commands. We were not 
 permitted to talk roughly to the men. If we reported 
 a private for laziness or some other reason, he was 
 never punished, but merely admonished to do his duty 
 in the future. We all know the Herr Captain had 
 the ambition to prove that he could command a com- 
 pany without ever decreeing a punishment." 
 
 The company's records of punishment are handed 
 over to the regiment and to the division regularly. 
 According to the views of the higher superiors, that 
 company is the best which can show the smallest 
 number of penalties imposed. Those records have 
 wrought no end of evil, they are the stumbling-blocks 
 of the officers. - 
 
 Undoubtedly there should be supervision on the 
 part of the higher officers ; only it should Hot be ex- 
 ercised as now. It is not easy to determine from a 
 seat at a desk whether a captain acted correctly when 
 he imposed three days' arrest upon a man. Consider 
 also the principle before mentioned. " That company 
 is the best which has the smallest number of punish- 
 ments." No saying is more fallacious than this. 
 N'one leads to so much undue leniency toward the 
 subordinates. This view of the higher superiors 
 almost compels a captain to close eyes and ears, to see 
 nothing and to hear nothing, so as not to be obliged 
 to impose penalties. 
 
FIRST-CLASS MEN 243 
 
 Herr von Warnow obviously did not vish to punish 
 any one. That was clearly established by the testi- 
 mony of all the witnesses. He wanted to have the best 
 company, not because of exaggerated military ambi- 
 tion but solely because of his refinement. Men who 
 had been punished became distasteful to him individ- 
 ually, he could not bear them. A private of the guard 
 might be rebuked sometimes, but never sent to con- 
 finement. Thus confinement sentences had become 
 rarer and rarer in the company. The non-commis- 
 sioned oflBcers could not get the support of their cap- 
 tain, in consequence of this noble theory which did 
 not always answer the practical requirements of the 
 service. The captain demanded a great deal of his 
 non-commissioned officers ; his 'soldiers were to be the 
 best in every respect. Such results could not be ac- 
 complished by kindness. The men were not punished. 
 Cursing and scolding was prohibited, to look at a man 
 crossly resulted in the admonition to treat him 
 decently. What remained then for the non-com- 
 missioned officers but to seek their own relief? Not 
 during the official service, but afterward they wreaked 
 their vengeance on the men. 
 
 If a man drilled badly, it was first reported to the 
 captain with a request to make the fellow undergo 
 additional exercises; but the captain held that in a 
 decent company this was unnecessary. That irritated 
 the non-commissioned officers, who said to themselves : 
 " The fellows simply laugh at us if we report them 
 for punishment, they know it amounts to nothing. 
 So they ordered the men on extra drill. They ordered 
 
244 FIR8T-0rAS8 MEN 
 
 them up in their rooms behind closed doors and tor- 
 tured them as much as they could. There were cuffs 
 and blows in plenty. If any one betrayed by look or 
 mien that he intended not to endure such treatment, 
 he was brutally beaten until he gave up every idea of 
 complaint. Frequently the men had to get up at 
 night and drill in the rooms, dressed only in their 
 shirts. The man that didn't exercise properly was 
 beaten with a whip until blood flowed. 
 
 A sad condition of affairs was revealed. The whole 
 company, including the officers, had to appear as 
 witnesses. Both lieutenants, Freiherr von Masemann 
 and Winkler, stated under oath that they had no 
 inkling of the abuses, that they had never heard of a 
 complaint, never noticed or heard of anything sus- 
 picious while inspecting the men's quarters. 
 
 The interrogatory of Captain von Warnow resulted 
 differently. He had to admit that the depositions of 
 the sergeant-major were correct. He had also to 
 admit that his attention had been called repeatedly to 
 the actions of Corporal von Nissen, and that he had 
 paid no attention to such warnings. As his reason for 
 so doing he could only say that Nissen had been most 
 sympathetic to him, that he should never have sus- 
 pected him of such treatment of his men. He had 
 nothing further to offer in extenuation of his con- 
 duct. 
 
 " Didn't you know, Herr Captain, it was your duty 
 to investigate whether the accusations against the 
 corporal had any foundation in fact?" asked the 
 auditor who conducted the investigation. 
 
FIB8T-GLASS MEN 245- 
 
 Captain Ton Warnow drew himself up proudly. " I 
 believe I have done my duty in every respect, I have 
 always admonished my non-commissioned ofBeers to 
 treat their men decently." 
 
 The auditor took that answer down, and said: 
 " Corporal von Mssen offers as his excuse that you, 
 Herr Captain, directly ordered him to deal with the 
 crooked and the stupid ones, as he expressed himself, 
 singly. He thinks that gave him the right to order 
 the -men on extra drill. He alleges that only his zeal 
 for the service, his consciousness of responsibility for 
 the confidence shown him caused him to strike the 
 men. May I ask you how you came to grant such a 
 young non-commissioned officer so much power? 
 According to my conception, you, Herr Captain, 
 thereby gave to the corporal occasion and motive for 
 his ill-treatment of the soldiers." 
 
 " That may be your idea, Herr Auditor. I selected 
 this non-commissioned officer because he seemed to 
 me, on account of his education, the best qualified in 
 every respect." 
 
 " Did it never strike you that von Nissen's men in 
 particular were frequently lame or marched poorly? 
 Did you never inquire what ailed them? Did you 
 never try to learn whether the many falls of which the 
 men spoke actually happened ? Especially at the pres- 
 ent time when so many cases of ill-treatment are 
 occurring, you should have inquired why so many in- 
 juries took place among Mssen's men." 
 
 Herr von Warnow listened to the auditor in amaze- 
 ment: "It seems as if you were trying to hold me 
 
2U FIRST-CLASS MEN 
 
 responsible for the whole affair, though only in- 
 directly. I must emphatically protest against that." 
 
 The auditor looked at the captain firmly. " I am ' 
 certainly of the opinion that you are to blame in so far 
 as you did not exercise sufficient supervision over 
 your non-commissioned officers. I consider it my duty 
 to embody that in the record." 
 
 The consequence was that a charge was preferred 
 against Captain von Warnow for being indirectly re- 
 sponsible for the abuses, because of insufficient super- 
 vision of his non-commissioned officers. 
 
 Captain von Warnow was suspended from service, 
 and Freiherr von Masemann entrusted with the com- 
 mand of the company. It was the sensation of the 
 day. They were all beyond themselves, but nobody 
 was stunned by the news more than George. He 
 had not wished, he had not expected that his report 
 would have such consequences. According to the 
 surmises expressed at the casino, Herr von Warnow 
 was likely to get four weeks' confinement to his quar- 
 ters; possibly he would be obliged to leave the army. . 
 At all events, he could no longer stay with the regiment. 
 Again the whole wave of anger turned against George 
 as the cause of the whole misfortune. He suffered 
 terribly under the silent accusations of the others. 
 He retired almost completely from intercourse with 
 his comrades. He was in no mood to frequent social 
 affairs. What should he do there? As long as the 
 investigation against his captain was pending, the 
 latter could not go to entertainments, and the con- 
 sequence was that his wife and niece did not go out. 
 
FIRST-CLASS MEN 247 
 
 So George was deprived of the chance of speaking 
 with Hildegarde, thought just at that time he wished 
 particularly to see her and to learn from her own 
 lips whether she also condemned him for having 
 caused her relatives trouble. 
 
X. 
 
 Sentence had been pronounced. Corporal von 
 Nissen was to be degraded and imprisoned for eigh- 
 teen months. Pour more non-commissioned officers 
 of the company were sentenced to six months' impris- 
 onment each. A few days later the court martial 
 found against Captain von Wamow a sentence of four 
 weeks' confinement in a fortress for insufficient super- 
 vision of his non-commissioned officers, whereby he 
 indirectly caused the ill-treatment of their sub- 
 ordinates. 
 
 The Yellow Butterflies glided about completely 
 crushed. All merriment had died out at the casino. 
 The officers scarcely dared to be waited on by the 
 orderlies; what must they think of their superiors? 
 If only publicity at the time had been prevented ! A 
 motion to the efEect had been made, but did not pre- 
 vail. The whole deadly affair was displayed in the 
 newspapers. The press of all shades of opinion con- 
 demned the facts that came to light. There was talk 
 of bringing the matter before the Reichstag. There 
 were long dissertations upon the subject. What use 
 were ordinances against the ill-treatment of soldiers 
 if the superiors did not see that the ordinances were 
 obeyed ? In short, the papers were full of the matter 
 day after day. 
 
 Nor was that the worst. His Majesty had ordered 
 
FIRST-0LAS8 MEN. 349 
 
 a detailed report about the afEair. He had asked for 
 the records and sent to the officers and non-commis- 
 sioned officers word in unmistakable fashion that they 
 had lost his good-will and grace, and that it would 
 take a long time to regain his confidence. 
 
 " We are taboo." Somebody let that remark drop 
 at table, and thereby hit the nail on the head. The 
 Yellow Butterflies were taboo. They could see it by 
 the way in which they were regarded in society, by the 
 way in which the comrades of other swell regiments 
 avoided them. In a manner as unobtrusive as pos- 
 sible, yet plainly noticeable to them. ITot because of 
 deep inner conviction! Not because the others felt 
 indignant that such things should happen with the 
 Yellow Butterflies! No, it wasirt that. It didn't 
 concern them whether thrashing went on in the regi- 
 ment or not. Why, it happened every day, particularly 
 with the cavalry. There was hardly a riding exercise 
 where the riding whip did not come into action. 
 Thrashing took place all around, in one regiment 
 a little more, in another a little less. So when the 
 other officers officially kept somewhat aloof from the 
 Yellow Butterflies, they did so with regard to pub- 
 licity. It would make a good impression if their 
 behavior toward the Butterflies were interpreted: 
 " We are better men." Added to that was the fact 
 that His Majesty's words had become public. There- 
 fore sagacity required cool conduct toward the Yellow 
 Butterflies. If His Majesty dropped the regiment, 
 one could not very well treat it graciously. 
 
 The Yellow Butterflies were taboo. They noticed 
 
250 FIRST-CLASS MEN 
 
 it plainly when they held the first love feast after 
 these sad occurences. As usual, invitations had been 
 extended to the comrades of other military bodies. 
 Almost all declined; only a few young fellows for 
 whom nobody cared in particular accepted. 
 
 Baron Gersbach, the Uhlan, did not come, although 
 Count Wettborn personally went to see him, and 
 guaranteed him a long gambling night. Still, Baron 
 Gersbach insisted on declining the invitation. 
 
 "Don't take it amiss, my dear Count, but condi- 
 tions with you are not quite right. Too much has 
 been in the papers. Who can guarantee that one of 
 your men or one of the non-commissioned oflScers 
 engaged in waiting on us, will not go to some paper 
 afterward and tell them the fresh news of what we 
 have done, and how we behaved. If one of your own 
 lieutenants conjures up such a scandal by an indiscre- 
 tion wholly out of place, we need not be astonished 
 if your men do the same thing. I have no desire to 
 figure in the papers. I am glad I got off so easily at 
 the time Willberg disappeared from the face of the 
 earth. Don't take it amiss if I speak frankly. As 
 long as you have characters like Winkler among you, 
 we cannot associate with you." 
 
 Count Wettborn tried in vain to defend George ; he 
 made no impression. 
 
 " Certainly he had the best of intentions," said the 
 Uhlan, "but intentions alone don't always count. 
 A sensible man must see what the consequences are. 
 The consequences in this case you know better than I 
 do. The whole affair is most unpleasant for us. 
 
FIRST-CLASS MEN 251 
 
 We regiments of the guard form a whole as it were ; 
 what happens in one, casts its shadow upon the 
 others. The public does not say that such a thing 
 happened with the Yellow Butterflies. It says : ' It 
 happened with the guard.' That is horrible, for we 
 more than others must insist on a good reputation 
 with the outside world. Extraordinary demands are 
 made upon us in regard to the service, consequently 
 we may have to exercise extraordinary strictness 
 toward our men. If then some idealist appears who 
 wants to make the whole world happy, who wants 
 to abolish corporal punishment, we find his ideas 
 very beautiful in theory, but if he provokes such a 
 public scandal, we simply cannot continue to asso- 
 ciate with him." 
 
 The count had to leave without accomplishing his 
 purpose. Thus far he had been the only one defend- 
 ing George from a sense of justice. Now he came 
 to realize that Winkler could not remain in the regi- 
 ment. One morning he spoke to the commander in 
 this sense. " It wont do any longer, Herr Colonel, 
 we are almost boycotted. We can't have any guests 
 so long as Winkler is with us. He has brought dis- 
 credit upon us, and upon himself. Formerly nothing 
 could be urged against him, except his ' Buerger- 
 licher descent; now the belief prevails among the 
 corps of ofBcers that he made his report solely because 
 he is ' Buergerlich.' " 
 
 The commander looked up astonished. "How is 
 that?" 
 
 "Pardon, Herr Colonel, the matter is simple 
 
352 FIB8T-CLA88 MEN 
 
 enough. The gentlemen believe that Winkler in- 
 tended to avenge himself by his report for not having 
 been treated by us with the cordial comradeship he 
 expected. He meant to play us a trick and to show 
 us : ' As the only ' Buergerlicher ' among you, I am far 
 more respectable than you. Solely not to bring dis- 
 credit upon your regiment, and upon your noble 
 names, you close your eyes and ears and tolerate the 
 abuse of your men. I am more liberal, I am less 
 permeated by the caste spirit which prompts you to 
 preserve appearances. Therefore I act according to 
 the dictates of my conscience. I am guided solely 
 by my sense of duty." 
 
 " That is sheer nonsense ! " burst out the com- 
 mander. 
 
 "Certainly, I would take my oath such thoughts 
 never occurred to Winkler. But the comrades impute 
 them to him. That cannot be helped. Nothing is 
 more difficult than 'to talk them out of a view they 
 have once firmly accepted. You know that better 
 than I." 
 
 The colonel groaned. "The Lord knows what 
 pains I took to bring the lieutenants to their senses." 
 
 He lighted his cigar and smoked furiously. " My 
 dear Count, let me give you a bit of advice. If you 
 are not pensioned off early, leave the army before you 
 become colonel and commander of a regiment. I 
 can tell you the path is not one of roses. The colonel 
 is responsible for everything, for the education of the 
 men, for their spirit, for the corps of non-commis- 
 sioned officers, and last, but not least, for the lieu- 
 
FIR8T-CLAS8 MEN 253 
 
 tenants. It's a dreary world. No, I will not be 
 guilty of sinning," he corrected himself, "I have 
 every reason to be grateful, because I would have 
 taken an oath that I should never live to see this day 
 as a soldier." 
 
 He eased his necktie with his hand, for he suddenly 
 had a sensation as if somebody was trying to choke 
 him to death. 
 
 He banged his fist on the table so furiously that 
 the count, who had been engaged in admiring his own 
 polished boots was startled. The colonel noticed it, 
 but was not in the least concerned. " It is a scandal," 
 he burst out, " We successfully navigated around two 
 cliffs, only to encounter a third one called Winkler. 
 God forgive me, but I wish he had never been born, 
 or at least had never come to us. He has had little 
 fuD out of it, neither have we." The commander 
 passed his right hand nervously over his thin hair. 
 " It is easy for you to talk, dear Count, and to tell me: 
 'We shall regain our social standing only if we get 
 rid of Winkler.' You called my attention to the in- 
 tolerable conditions existing among the corps of ofS- 
 cers, and you tell me there will be no change until 
 we are rid of Winkler. Easily said; but how can it 
 be done ? It is impossible for me to request his trans- 
 fer. If His Majesty finds out the true reason for 
 my action ; if His Majesty should have an inkling that 
 there is a single man in the whole corps of officers 
 who does not highly appreciate Winkler's action in 
 reporting the abuses against the men, then — " the 
 colonel shook himself — " We can't think of it^ there 
 
254 FIBST-GLA88 MEN 
 
 will be a crash, simply awful. I have told you before 
 that His Majesty spoke of Winkler in terms of high 
 praise and appreciation. If I were to tell him the 
 man does not fit in our midst, we should have such 
 a time that all the previous ungracious remarks of 
 His Majesty would only be child's-play in compari- 
 son. I can't have that. With all the reverence for 
 my gracious king, I say to myself : ' Don't go to your 
 prince, unless you are called.' That's why I don't 
 recommend Winkler's transfer, because if we are just 
 we must admit there is nothing against him." 
 
 The count polished his monocle with deliberation, 
 Then he remarked: "What the Herr Colonel just 
 said, is perfectly true. I thought about it last even- 
 ing, and I have come to the conclusion it would be 
 better if Winkler's transfer did not originate with 
 us. He himself must apply for it. If he does not 
 wish to do that, he ought to be persuaded to take a 
 year's furlough. Meantime he might consider the 
 whole question and not don the uniform again. If 
 he does don it again after all the experiences he has 
 had with us, he will feel the desire to reenter not our 
 regiment, but some other troop." 
 
 The colonel listened attentively, and nodded as- 
 sent. " That might do, dear Count. That way out 
 is not bad. Of course I should give the warmest sup- 
 port to his request for leave. There is no doubt it 
 would be granted, considering how well disposed His 
 Majesty is toward him. If we could only get him to 
 hand ia such a request." 
 
FIRST-CLASS MEN 255 
 
 " We can msuiage that, Herr Colonel, I shall talk 
 to him as soon as I have the opportunity." 
 
 On the evening of the day when the commander 
 and the count held this conversation about George's 
 future, George conversed with Olga on the same sub- 
 ject. "I am tired of it, Olga, I shall remain here 
 no longer. I am tired of storming the wall that 
 divides me from the rest. I made up my mind to- 
 day to hand in my resignation."' 
 
 Lately Ogla had gone to George almost daily, and 
 he had unbosomed himself to her with great freedom. 
 She had foreseen that sooner or later it would come 
 to this. Still she felt shocked at his words and tried 
 to make him change his mind. 
 
 It was useless. 
 
 " At least ask for a transfer to another regiment," 
 she begged. 
 
 George shook his head. "It is no use, child. I 
 am sure I should not be sent to a miserable frontier 
 garrison where one becomes an idiot. On the contrary, 
 I should be sent to a city. What could I do there? 
 I know I might play a role, to an extent, because I had 
 been with the guard, though only for a short time. 
 That counts for much in the provinces. Again, I am 
 rich. For. the latter reason alone, I should be highly 
 welcome. All the world would be glad to borrow of, 
 me. I know that from my former garrison. In 
 those small towns every newcomer of whom one may 
 be able to borrow is celebrated and feted like a god. 
 They all borrow, from the captain down to the young- 
 est lieutenant. Even the ensign drinks himself into 
 
859 FIBST-0LA88 MEN 
 
 a state of courage, and humbly begs the Herr Lieu- 
 tenant to let him have twenty marks. I have been 
 there. I never asked for a written acknowledgment 
 on lending the money, Ijut they always gave it with- 
 out waiting for the request. In such matters they are 
 punctilious about the form, but nobody ever redeemed 
 his paper. All the documents are filed in my desk, 
 a contribution to the history of the culture and ethics 
 of lieutenants, a characterization of the 'first-class 
 men.' " 
 
 He rose, opened a drawer, and busied himseK with 
 the papers he took from a portfolio. 
 
 " See, Olga, you needn't read the names, they are of 
 no interest to you. Here it says : ' Hereby I pledge 
 myself upon my word of honor to refund the amount 
 of five hundred marks lent to me not later than within 
 the next three months.' — ' Hereby I pledge my word 
 of honor to refund the thousand marks lent to me to- 
 day, the latest at ' — so it goes through the whole bun- 
 dle. Darling, I have dozens of them, dozens of un- 
 redeemed words of honor. Those who violated their 
 pledges are strutting around in the world as proud 
 officers." He was silent for a moment, then said: 
 "The lieutenants are men entirely different from 
 others. They form as it were a class by themselves. 
 Their easy-goiijg ways and their ideas on certain 
 points are truly ingenious. I feel sure of one thing, 
 that I do not understand those ' first-class men,' and 
 because I don't understand them, I have no excuse to 
 offer for their actions, thoughts and sentiments. I 
 am ready to forgive them what they did to me, though 
 
FIB8T-CLA8S MEN 357 
 
 it comes hard, but I can scarcely look on calmly when 
 they pose so grandly before the world. There is hardly 
 any class whose general cultivation is so meagre as 
 that of the lieutenants ; I could almost say they can't 
 even read and write correctly." 
 
 " Oh, oh, George," Olga interposed, " one should 
 not exaggerate, even in anger." 
 
 " I am not angry. I am only sorry to know how 
 wretched conditions are with our corps of officers. 
 Don't you believe I said too much just now. Granted 
 our lieutenants can read; can they write? Will you 
 look through the begging letters and the acknowledg- 
 ments of debt I showed you a little while ago ? You 
 would find there specimens of style compared with 
 which a schoolboy would appear as a profound scholar. 
 That isn't all. You would also find an orthography 
 that would bring public censure to a pupil in one of 
 the lower classes of a grammar school. You laugh, 
 Olga, but what I say is the truth. Of course, my re- 
 marks concern only the lieutenants, not the men of 
 higher rank. Still I have frequently noticed how 
 even the higher superiors were embarrassed if they 
 were suddenly called upon to prepare a report. There 
 was hesitation and hard work over every phrase. It 
 was almost pitiable. In spite of all, in spite of the lack 
 of elementary knowledge, such arrogance, such self- 
 assertion ! Every officer should be proud of his posi- 
 tion and his calling, of course; but pride should not 
 turn into a mania. In former years people were 
 wont to speak of the youtig, well-educated, knightly 
 lieutenants, the perfect noblemen. Where are they 
 
258 FIRST-CLASS MEN 
 
 now? Go about with a lantern looking for them! 
 During my term of service I scarcely made the 
 acquaintance of one. The few who come from the 
 home of their parents fresh and natural, upon enter- 
 ing the army are soon afEected by the caste spirit, 
 soon filled with the devil of pride. Just ask the par- 
 ents whose sons have become officers whether they are 
 not often startled by the arrogance and the supercili- 
 ous manner of the young fellows who deem the best 
 just good enough for them; whether they have not 
 often rued it bitterly that they allowed their sons to 
 enter a calling which estranges them from their own 
 parents, who become to them only a financial resource 
 to supply the means for their expensive mode of life." 
 
 "George, you surely exaggerate," Olga expostu- 
 lated. 
 
 " You think so ? I can only tell you I have known 
 young lieutenants who were ashamed that their 
 fathers were school principals or something similar, 
 but were by no means ashamed to draw money from 
 home constantly in order to appear before the world 
 in becoming style. They want to make it seem, in 
 fact they think they must make it seem, as if they 
 came from distinguished houses. I was present once, 
 and heard a lieutenant say his father was a pensioned 
 officer, because he was ashamed to own the old gentle- 
 man was a practising physician." 
 
 " Pf ui, that isn't nice." 
 
 Therefore it happened that Count Wettborn met no 
 difficulties when he endeavored to persuade George 
 to take a furlough. He was surprised when he 
 
FIBST-GLA88 MEN 259 
 
 learned that George was firmly determined to hand 
 in his resignation and to enter his father's factory; 
 but, of course, he made no effort to bring Winkler to 
 a change of mind. 
 
 "When do you expect to hand in your applica- 
 tion?" 
 
 "Within a few days. My father wrote he was 
 commanded to wait upon His Majesty, and I expect 
 him here early next week. Although I am entirely 
 master of my own actions, can stay or go as I please, 
 I consider it my duty to inform my father first of my 
 purpose." 
 
 "Certainly, certainly," Count Wettborn assented. 
 " A week sooner or later does not matter." 
 
 That was also the view of the comrades when they 
 heard that Winkler intended to go. Whether he 
 stayed a week longer or not made no difference. The 
 main thing was that they would be rid of him. 
 
 " Boys, let us be a little nice to him during the last 
 few days," said a comrade, " let us act as if we were 
 sorry for his leaving us. After all, it isn't his fault 
 that he in no wise fits in our circle. It will be advan- 
 tageous for us if the memory of his last few days is 
 a pleasant one to him. In his later life he will often. 
 teU of the time when he enjoyed the honor of belong- 
 ing to us. Though it's quite immaterial what he may 
 say about us to the circle of burghers with whom 
 he wUl associate hereafter, it can't do us any harm if 
 
 he says: 'The Yellow Butterflies are a d fine 
 
 regiment; so easy and genial. They are charming 
 
360 FIB8T-CLAS8 MEN 
 
 fellows, cherishing the spirit of comradeship better 
 than any other regiment in the army.' " 
 
 The proposition met with little approval. "For 
 his own sake he will never tell how we treated him 
 and how we frightened him away." 
 
 At last they agreed to show no outward resentment 
 during the short time remaining, but to behave with 
 a certain formal courtesy. 
 
 Winkler could hardly suppress a derisive smile 
 when he noticed the sudden change of sentiment' 
 toward him. Words of irony rose to his lips when the 
 comrades inquired about his future plans, when they 
 feigned interest in everything concerning him. Often 
 he was tempted to exclaim: "Don't trouble your- 
 selves, don't dissimulate, you can't hide your pleasure 
 at getting rid of me," but he did not speak out. The 
 ofiBcers would not own their true sentiments. What 
 was the use ? 
 
 Once at noon a comrade invited him to a glass of 
 champagne. He had won a few hundred marks in the 
 Prussian lottery, and obtained permission from the 
 head of the table to celebrate the event properly. 
 Winkler hardly trusted his ears when he heard the 
 other say to him : " Won't you grant me the pleasure 
 of drinking a glass of champagne with me ? " 
 
 At first George felt like making a warm reply: 
 " Since I have been here not a soul has shown me any 
 friendliness, I decline it to-day." Anger and indig- 
 nation rose within him that they should dare to ex- 
 tend an invitation to him now. Suddenly his humor 
 gained the upper hand. He found the offer extremely 
 
FIRST-CLASS MEN 261 
 
 comical and accepted it with thanks. " Only on one 
 condition," he said, following a sudden impulse, and 
 speaking in a loud voice so that all must hear him, 
 " On the day when I hand in my resignation, I should 
 like to give to the officers a solemn farewell dinner. I 
 can accept an invitation now only on condition that I 
 shall have occasion to reciprocate. Won't you come," 
 he turned to his host, "and you-^and you — and 
 you?" 
 
 He asked every one at the long table separately. 
 Fot one of them declined. They all thought the same 
 thing. If it gives pleasure to him, why shoiddn't we 
 have a royal time at his expense ? Since he is going to 
 leave, it does not put us under any obligation. 
 
 When George had received all the acceptances, he 
 felt a sensation almost of loathing for his comrades. 
 Were they not ashamed to accept a kindness from the 
 man they had treated so insultingly? He had not 
 been in earnest with his invitation. He had counted 
 on it as a certainty that each and every one of them 
 would find some excuse for declining, and he had 
 enjoyed in advance the variety of the excuses offered. 
 But they had all accepted. Not only that, but the 
 gentlemen inquired where and when the dinner 
 would take place, hoping that it would not be at the 
 casino. The rooms there were very nice, but otherwise 
 — always the same kind of food. If there was to be 
 a dinner, he had better arrange for it in one of the 
 finest restaurants. He could afford it, one large bill 
 more or less didn't matter anything to him. It was 
 
262 FIRST-GLASS MEN 
 
 to be hoped that the champagne would be genuine 
 Preneh. 
 
 " The other day, I heard a brilliant Ion mot about 
 that," said a comrade, " let me see what was it ? Oh 
 yes, ' Pour for your guest German champagne and 
 tell him it is French, it's ao use, he won't drink it; 
 but give him French champagne and tell him it is 
 German, and drink it he will.' Better mind that, 
 Winkler." 
 
 George promised to remember it, and to send out 
 the invitations as soon as he had spoken to his father. 
 
 " When will your father come ? " 
 
 George did not know himself. He expected him 
 every day, and with him the Yellow Butterflies. They 
 began to get restive, as the old gentleman delayed. 
 What if he shouldn't come at all? Perhaps it was 
 only a pretense on the part of George to talk about 
 his resignation, and thereby to bring about a change 
 of sentiment. Perhaps the old man would appear 
 only in a year and a day. Perhaps the whole affair 
 was only a trick on the part of George to cheat the 
 others and to make sport of them. 
 
 They were in a state of anxiety, and therefore all 
 the more jubilant when George's comrade, Freiherr 
 von Masemann, said in the casino one day at noon: 
 " The manufacturer of breeches buttons is here. I 
 saw him last evening at a restaurant." 
 
 A thanksgiving rose from every heart. Then 
 came the question : " What does he look like ? " 
 
 " Simply funny. The man wears a ready-made 
 necktie, loose cuffs, and a pair of boots that show at 
 
FIBST-CLAS8 MEN 363 
 
 the first glance they have not been built at the capital. 
 At table the man cuts the bread with a knife, instead 
 of breaking it." 
 
 "Pfui Teufel!" 
 
 It was an outcry of sincerest indignation that 
 passed along the line. 
 
 " Do stop," begged a young lieutenant, " consider, 
 we have only just finished our dinner;" 
 
 "Calm yourself," the Freiherr continued, "with 
 all his faults, the old man has one good point." 
 
 "And that is?" 
 
 " He has a daughter." 
 
 " Ah, really ? Winkler never told us anything about 
 her." 
 
 They talked together surrounding the speaker. 
 
 " Pretty ? " one asked at last. The others pressed 
 still closer. 
 
 The Freiherr deliberately waited, and said at last: 
 "Pretty? Boys, I can tell you, she is more than 
 pretty, and though she comes from the provinces, she 
 is dead stylish. You ought to see her figure, I can 
 tell you — " he clacked with his tongue. 
 
 " Did you have yourself presented ? " 
 
 " I regret, no. I happened to be at the restaurant 
 with some acquaintances, and found no oportunity 
 to disengage myself, but this evening it may be man- 
 aged. I heard accidentally how the old manufacturer 
 of breeches buttons arranged to have a table reserved 
 for him to-day. The rest will be my business. Once 
 I know the young lady, I shall conquer.' 
 
364 FIBST-0LA88 MEN 
 
 " In other words, that means you will try to catch 
 the gold fish." 
 
 Freiherr von Masemann calmly lighted a cigarette. 
 "Somebody will marry her, why shouldn't I be the 
 man ? " 
 
 " Very true; but do you believe that your coup wiU 
 be succesful ? " 
 
 The Freiherr shrugged his shoulders. "Who 
 knows? I can try. At the worst I may be refused. 
 Why should the old man say no, once I have succeeded 
 in turning the daughter's head? My family is with- 
 out blemish. I myself am not any worse than, the 
 rest, and what few debts I have don't cut a great 
 figure. The old man has got the means and may be 
 glad to get an aristocratic son-in-law for his money." 
 
 The others agreed with him. What reason could 
 there be why father and daughter should not receive 
 the Freiherr with open arms ? Some even considered 
 the engagement a fm,t accompli. 
 
 " How do you stand with Winkler ? " one of them 
 asked. 
 
 " He may have a word to say about it." 
 
 " Our friendship is none too great," observed Mase- 
 mann, "but Winkler may be glad if I become his 
 brother-in-law. Thereby, he continues in some rela- 
 tion with our regiment. That is of great benefit 
 and advantage to him. Just think what a position 
 in society the man obtains, if he is able to say :. ' My 
 brother-in-law, the Freiherr von Masemann.' That 
 will be to him almost as good as if he himself was 
 a nobleman. Of course, I should keep my brother-in- 
 
FIBST-CLA8S MEN 365 
 
 law at a distance as far as, possible, I should know 
 how to prevent him from overrunning my house. 
 Well, that will be settled later on. We will try our 
 luck this evening." 
 
 But the noble Preiherr had no luck that evening. 
 He waited in vain for the Winklers. They were in 
 George's quarters. The commercial councillor told 
 of the audience he had with the King. He reported 
 how His Majesty had graciously inquired after 
 George, and expressed his satisfaction that George 
 had acted so properly iti the matter of the ill-treat- 
 ment of the soldiers. Old Winkler reported how glad 
 the King was to have only good words about George 
 from the corps of officers, that he had learned with 
 satisfaction how well George stood with his comrades, 
 and how really sorry he, the King, was that unfore- 
 seen circumstances did not enable him to keep his 
 promise to have him at table with him to-morrow. 
 
 " Didn't I always tell you so ? " the old man con- 
 cluded; "do you recollect how you wanted to give 
 up the very first day? Who was right after all, 
 you or I ? " 
 
 George exchanged a quick glance with his sister 
 with whom he had talked, informing her that he did 
 not wish to spoil his father's pleasure on the first 
 day of their reunion. He had also wished to prevent 
 his father from talking to the King about his pro- 
 posed resignation. He had kept his own counsel so 
 far, now he must speak. His father's last words made 
 it easy for him. 
 
 " What if I was right after all, Father? What if 
 
266 FIRST-GLASS MEN 
 
 now I am just as much a stranger in the regiment 
 as I was at the beginning, if my position has been 
 made worse by that which the King praised, if what 
 the gentlemen told about my friendly relations with 
 the comrades was a falsehood in order not to rouse 
 the King's anger still more ? What then ? " 
 
 The father looked at his son with staring eyes. " I 
 do not understand you." 
 
 " Then I will speak more plainly." He told at 
 length how affairs had gone with him from the first 
 day in the regiment, how it was expected he would 
 resign, how he was determined to do it, not in order 
 to please the Yellow Butterflies, but in order to have 
 some pleasure in life again. 
 
 The old man listened with amazement. His fist 
 came down upon the table. "If I forbid you to do 
 it, if I command you to remain an oflScer ? " 
 
 George looked at him calmly. "You won't com- 
 mand me to do that. Father. You yourself left it 
 with me to quit any moment I chose. You will not 
 take back your word." 
 
 "If I do, if I don't want you to let the others 
 triumph in your defeat ? " 
 
 " Thpn I shall go in any case. Father, I am of age 
 and master of my own resolutions." 
 
 The old man lost his composure. " If I disinherit 
 you?" 
 
 " Even then I shall go. I have saved enough to be 
 able to live without care for the immediate future. 
 As your son I shall find some occupation." 
 
 Again the father was on the point of exploding. 
 
FIRST-CLASS MEN 267 
 
 when Elsa interrupted the conversation, closely nest- 
 ling to the old gentleman. " Give up your opposi- 
 tion," she begged; " George talked about it with me 
 yesterday and to-day at length and with details. I 
 too tried to make him change his mind, and failed. 
 He feels far too unhappy as an officer. How can you 
 wish to force him to endure the life any longer?" 
 
 The old man sat in silence a long time. " Mother 
 will be beyond herself," he said at last. 
 
 Brother and sister exchanged a quick glance. They 
 knew they had won, but they took good care not to 
 give expression to their joy. 
 
 " Don't you find it hard to leave the army ? " 
 
 "How should I, Father, after the innumerable 
 humiliations I have endured? I doff the uniform 
 gladly. With my ideas, I don't belong there, though 
 I took pleasure in my duties." 
 
 " Is not every officer a soldier with his whole 
 heart?" Elsa inquired. 
 
 George laughed aloud. "You innocent angel! I 
 can assure you, half the lieutenants would resign 
 forthwith if they were in a better position financially. 
 The best proof of my assertion is that every lieu- 
 tenant is looking around for a rich wife. Having 
 . found her, he either resigns immediately, or he stays 
 only so long as he enjoys the service. If it becomes 
 too wearisome for him, he throws the royal coat at 
 the feet of his superior, and says : ' See how you will 
 get along without me. Make other people crazy with 
 your nerves.' Thank the Lord I am no longer obliged 
 to submit to everything. Of course there are excep- 
 
268 FIRST-CLASS MEN 
 
 tions, the ambitious and those eager to succeed, those 
 lihat dream of the red stripes on their pantaloons and 
 of the title ' Excellency.' They may find it hard if 
 some day they are obliged to go. Finally, there are 
 certainly some who are officers body and soul, but 
 their number is small. Where do you find them? 
 JSTot in the lower grades. I hardly made the ac- 
 quaintance of a single lieutenant who did not curse 
 and swear about every matter of duty he was ordered 
 to perform, who would have not preferred to resign, 
 had he only known how to get a living. Harsh as it 
 sounds, that is the truth. If a lieutenant says, ' I 
 am glad I am an officer,' he refers to his social posi- 
 tion. He scarcely ever feels that way because he 
 enjoys the details of drilling. As with the lieutenant, 
 so it is with the captain. There is no superior who 
 does not harass him, make life a hell to him, hold him 
 to account for every petty misdeed of his men. Under 
 such circumstances^ how can you expect joy in the 
 service? It must inevitably die out. Such a poor 
 captain pockets everything. He stays on because he 
 must, because he has a wife and children and no 
 money; because he finds himself under the cruel 
 necessity of earning a higher pension in order to be 
 able to live when old. He slaves and drudges from 
 early morning until late in the evening. In most 
 cases he fails to attain his goal, he ends by becoming 
 a victim of misery and want. If it comes hard on him 
 to take off the uniform, he sheds no tear for the 
 service, but he weeps over his failure in life, because 
 still in possession of all his mental and physical f acul- 
 
FIB8T-CLASS MEN 269 
 
 ties he finds himself doomed to inactivity and to 
 eternal financial worries. You find joy in the service 
 among the higher grades, but not among the lower 
 ones, at least not among the infantry." 
 
 The father was in ill humor. He controlled him- 
 self as best he could, though from time to time his 
 anger burst out, and George and his sister could only 
 calm him with difiiculty. 
 
 " Are you really going to hand in your resignation 
 to-morrow? Won't you consider it for another four 
 weeks? Hadn't you better first take furlough for a 
 year or so ? " 
 
 George shook his head. " I must go, Father, the 
 sooner the better. My place is not among the officers 
 with their more than singular views." 
 
 As if to confirm his words, the servant just then 
 .brought in a letter. 
 
 "Answer necessary?" 
 
 "Ifo." 
 
 The servant left and George opened the note. 
 
 "What troubles you?" asked Elsa, who had ob- 
 served him while he was reading the letter. 
 
 He sprang to his feet. " In my life I never 
 encountered sudh impudence. Listen. Let me first 
 remind you of the comrade from my regiment who 
 sat in the same restaurant yesterday." 
 
 "Ah, the awkward youth who first did not know 
 whether he ought to notice us at all, and afterward 
 was shameless enough to try to flirt with me," said 
 Elsa. "What about him?" 
 
 " Not much," George replied with apparent equan- 
 
270 FIBST-0LA88 MEN 
 
 imity, "He only asks leave to apply for your 
 hand." 
 
 Pather and daughter looked at each other in 
 amazement. At last Elsa burst into laughter, finally 
 echoed by the rest. "He doesn't know me at all," 
 she obseryed. 
 
 " That's by no means necessary. The noble Frei- 
 herr knows your finances. He knows you are a good 
 catch, and that is enough for him. A man can live 
 comfortably without love, but not without money. 
 Listen, what the good soul writes. Let me tell you, 
 though, that from the fiist there were ffew comrades 
 with whom I was on such a bad footing as I was with 
 him." 
 
 He read : 
 
 "My very dear Mr. Winkler: 
 
 " I sit lonely and deserted here in the restaurant. 
 For an hour I have been looking impatiently toward 
 the door through which I hoped to see you and your 
 highly respected relatives enter. I was an accidental 
 witness when your father yesterday ordered his table 
 for this evening. 
 
 " You may have divined already without my saying 
 it that I went to the restaurant to-day in the silent 
 hope of being presented to your sister and to your 
 highly respected father. I must confess openly that 
 never yet did a young girl make so deep an impression 
 upon me as your sister. Although I have only had 
 the opportunity of observing her from a distance, 
 still I have no doubt that in such a beautiful body 
 
FIRST-CLASS MEN 371 
 
 dwells a beautiful soul. I have only this desire, to 
 be permitted to make her acquaintance. In considera- 
 tion of the friendliness and true comradeship which 
 has always existed between us, I ask for permission 
 to wait to-morrow upon your respected relatives in 
 order that you may present me to them. Of course 
 I am at the disposal of your father at any moment 
 with information about myself and my financial con- 
 dition. Finally, I beg you not to take amiss what 
 may be unusual in these lines; I know that your 
 father is to stay only a few days, and I should not 
 like your sister to leave the city without being allowed 
 an opportunity to approach her. 
 
 " Begging you to present my kindest regards to 
 your much-respected relatives, whom unfortunately 
 I have not yet the honor to know, I remain, with 
 sincere greetings, your always devoted 
 
 " Freiheee von Masemann." 
 
 " What do you say to that ? " said George. 
 
 " Is it possible ! " exclaimed the old commercial 
 councillor, " I must say I have experienced nothing 
 like it in my life." 
 
 "What do you say, Elsa?" 
 
 " I really don't know whether to laugh or to feel 
 vexed. What I should like to understand is whether 
 he does not feel ashamed to write like that." 
 
 George laughed with derision. "He ashamed? 
 Elsa, do you know so little about a lieutenant? Why 
 should he feel ashamed ? Your beauty has struck his 
 senses, still more the thought of your rich dower. He 
 
272 FIRST-GLASS MEN 
 
 cheerfully proceeds to the attack like Blucher at 
 Waterloo. If he wins, it is well. If he meets with 
 a refusal, he may try his luck elsewhere. By-and-by 
 he will catch his gold-fish. The more impertinent 
 such a fellow is, the easier he reaches the goal of his 
 desires." 
 
 " Not with us ! " the commercial councillor burst 
 out. " Pray tell your most noble comrade from me 
 to-morrow " 
 
 George interrupted him. " Kever mind. Father, I 
 shall know how to answer, and my reply will not give 
 him much joy. I shall ask him how it was that he 
 couldn't associate with me, and yet proposes to marry 
 my sister. In one sense, Elsa, it is a pity that you 
 can't stay here a few days longer, for then the whole 
 corps of officers would be at your little feet. From 
 the oldest staff ofScer down to the youngest lieu- 
 tenant, they would all court my favor in order to have 
 in me a warm advocate with you. In the face of your 
 millions, even the lieutenant who is proudest of his 
 nobility and boasts forever of his ancestors would 
 recognize the civilian class, and would condescend to 
 name you as his noble consort." , 
 
 "A fine company," the commercial councillor 
 snorted. 
 
 "Thanks for the honor of being married for my 
 money," said Elsa. " I believe I shall not marry at 
 all." 
 
 George looked teasingly at his sister. " Oh, some 
 day your heart will catch fire. That is as it should 
 be. How old are you now ? Nineteen or twenty ? " 
 
FIRST-GLASS MEN 273 
 
 " Twenty-one." 
 
 " And nobody has seriously wanted you so far ? " 
 
 She laughed. "Oh, yes, like your comrade. 
 Strangely enough those courting me were always offi- 
 cers, always Lieutenants. The only lieutenant I love 
 I cannot get." 
 
 George listened with astonishment. "And why 
 not?" 
 
 " Because he is my brother." 
 
 Laughing, he drew his lovely sister to him. 
 " Come, give me a kiss." Then he continued : " In 
 all seriousness, Elsa, you have grown more beautiful 
 lately." 
 
 He took pleasure looking at her, at her supple 
 figure, her proud bearing, her blue eyes, her whole 
 charming personality. 
 
 "Do you know you have much resemblance with 
 Hildegarde ? " he asked, suddenly. 
 
 It was the first time he had spoken her name to his 
 relatives. Now that he had done it, he grew embar- 
 rassed under his sister's glance. 
 
 His father, who had taken up the evening- paper, 
 laid it aside. " George, I am glad you speak of it. 
 You wrote so much about your Hildegarde. Who 
 and what is she, and how do you stand with her ? " 
 
 George tried to avoid the subject, but Elsa insisted 
 he should speak. "Do tell us something. In your 
 letters you could never write enough about her, at 
 least not at first. Lately you have had less to say. 
 Did you have a falling out ? " 
 
 " I don't think so," George said after some hesita- 
 
HU FIRST-CLASS MEN 
 
 tion, "at least I know of none. I wrote yon that 
 Hildegarde is a relative of my former captain, who 
 is now serving his term of imprisonment in a fortress. 
 ]Sraturally, Frau von Warnow does not go out much 
 at present. So I have seen Hildegarde only a few 
 times at chance meetings on the street." 
 
 " Did you never speak to her ? " 
 
 " Several times I was tempted to do so ; but I 
 should have been obliged to inquire how things were 
 with the Wamows, and that would have been pain- 
 ful." 
 
 " How do you stand with her," his father inquired 
 again. "You know your mother. She prophesied 
 long ago you would become engaged. Is she right ? " 
 
 " Since you ask me, Father, I must tell you that 
 once I cherished that idea. I believe if this horrible 
 affair had not happened, if we had seen each other 
 oftener, matters would have come to a clear under- 
 standing between us. But " 
 
 Elsa noticed the sadness in her brother's face, and 
 inquired : " Won't you find it hard to leave without 
 having seen her again ? " 
 
 " I shall see her again," George replied with deci- 
 sion. "I have my leave-taking visits to make. I 
 shall ask Hildegarde to name an hour when I shall 
 be sure to meet her." Following a sudden impulse, 
 he added: "Do you know, Blsa, I have told Hilde- 
 garde a great deal about you. I said you wished to 
 make her acquaintance. She anticipates meeting you. 
 Do me the favor to call on her ; ask her to visit you at 
 the hotel. Then I can come also, and when we see 
 
FIB8T-CLA88 MEN 275 
 
 each other again after our separation, we shall both 
 realize what we feel for each other. If Hjldegarde 
 loves me, then " 
 
 " Oho, don't be so hasty, my son," said the old 
 man, *' don't forget me. I wish to have a look at my 
 future daughter-in-law before I say Amen." 
 
 Hildegarde's picture suddenly stood clear and dis- 
 tinct before George's eyes. Now that he spoke of her, 
 memory roused in him a great yearning to meet her 
 anew. 
 
 " Hildegarde will please you, Father, she is beauti- 
 ful and intelligent. She has not the peculiar views 
 of her class concerning nobility. I have told her 
 much of you, about your factory, about your care for 
 your workmen, about your activity. For all this she 
 has interest and understanding." He spoke of her 
 with fire and warmth that betrayed how much at- 
 tached he was to her. 
 
 "What are the conditions of her family?" the 
 father inquired. " You Imow, whether she has any 
 money or not, is immaterial to me. You needn't be 
 concerned about that. What I mean is, do you know 
 anything about her relatives? Has she any brothers 
 and sisters ? Who are her parents ? " 
 
 George gave the information so fd,r as he was able. 
 
 " Another good-for-nothing lieutenant," the father 
 growled. "The parents having no money let their 
 boys become officers instead of making them turn 
 to some useful calling. At home the family starves 
 that the son may get drunk upon champagne at a 
 love feast with his comrades." 
 
276 FIRST-CLASS MEN 
 
 " Certainly Hildegarde is not responsible for that," 
 George said. "Wliat have I to do with her 
 brother?" 
 
 " Oho ! " The father straightened himself up. " A 
 man marries not only his wife, but her whole family. 
 Mind that, my boy. Therefore we must see clear 
 before we come to any definite decision. One thing 
 I will say frankly: 'I have long wished that you 
 should marry. So marry whom you wiU, it is all the 
 same to me. The main thing is that you love each 
 other. We shall have to look at your Hildegarde." 
 
XI. 
 
 "My son has just become engaged to your 
 daughter. For Hildegarde's sake, will try to help 
 you and your son. Expect both of you at once for 
 oral conference." 
 
 This despatch from the old commercial councillor 
 caused an indescribable sensation at the major's house. 
 Crying with joy, husband and wife sank into each 
 other's arms, and blessed the day Heaven had given^ 
 Hildegarde to them. 
 
 " A good girl ! A good girli " _the major praised 
 her again and again. If anything marred his bound- 
 less joy, it was that his Hilda did not stand by his 
 side. He would have liked to fold her in his arms, 
 to pat her shoulder, and to say to her: "Girl, you 
 have done well ! " 
 
 He laughed boisterously, and lighted the most 
 expensive cigar he had in the house. You must 
 celebrate the festivals as they come, and this surely 
 was his festival. Hildegarde engaged to the son of 
 otie of the richest industrial magnates! That was 
 almost more than luck. Involuntarily, the major 
 folded his hands and thanked the Lord for having 
 given him such a rich son-in-law. Again and again 
 he read^the despatch, he couldn't grasp the good news 
 in its full significance. The oftener he read the 
 
278 FIBST-GLA88 MEN 
 
 telegram and the more thoroughly he digested the 
 message, the more he was struck by the words : " Will 
 try for Hildegarde's sake to help you and your son. 
 Expect both of you forthwith." What was the 
 meaning of this " will try ! " Did this " Buerger- 
 lidier" parvenu believe he, the major, would give 
 his beautiful Child, his only daughter, to the son of 
 the manufacturer, without the latter going deep down 
 in his pocket for it ? Oho ! If the commercial coiin- 
 cillor was not going to pay all the debts of himself 
 and his son, the engagement would be broken. He, 
 as father, would refuse his consent. That would be 
 a nice state of affairs if he was to give his child to the 
 next best suitor without any compensation in return 
 for her. No, that wouldn't do; such a thing could 
 never come to pass. 
 
 His wife tried to calm him, but in talking the 
 matter over with her, he only succeeded in talking 
 himself into a greater state of anger. "You don't 
 know the souls of those shopkeepers. They grow 
 rich by haggling. Dirty avarice is their main quality, 
 as you can see here. Would a decent man think of 
 asking the question how many debts the father and 
 the brother of his future daughter-in-law have con- • 
 tracted? He pays. That settles it. What does that 
 mean: 'Expect both of you forthwith for confer- 
 ence?' The man ought to come to us, and to ask 
 for the hand of our child with all proper formality. 
 Instead of that, we are simply commanded to come to 
 him. I, an old major, to take orders from such a 
 parvenu! He has not a trace of respect for my 
 
FIB8T-CLA88 MEN 279 
 
 nobiliiy, my position, my name. He has the ducats, 
 and therefore we must dance as he whistles. I shall 
 show him his true station, I shall point out to him 
 what an honor it is for him and his house if we give 
 our own Hildegarde to his son, who is, as far as I 
 know, nothing more than a dismissed lieutenant. I 
 am going to open his eyes for him." 
 
 He paced the room growling and swearing. By 
 slow degrees the joy over Hildegarde's engagement 
 gained the upper hand. Earlier than usual, he 
 started for his " Stammtiseh " to tell the great news 
 and to receive congratulations. The next morning he 
 took the train. His wife at first wished to accompany 
 him, but he declined. " Fritz and I will talk to the 
 old fellow, and finish the business end of it. I shall 
 wire you how matters stand, and then you may come. 
 I repeat, if the old maJi does not pay up everything 
 clean, the engagement will come to naught." 
 
 Fritz, having met his father at a way-station, was 
 entirely of the same opinion. He, too, had received 
 a telegram that spoke only of the endeavor to help 
 him, and he was as indignant over it as his father. 
 " You observe quite correctly. Papa, there is but one 
 thing for us to do. We threaten to take Hildegarde 
 away with us, if he doesn't say Amen to everything. 
 We shall have to act with great energy, and to show 
 him we have plenty of spunk. Above all, we must 
 make the old man feel the social abyss that separates 
 him from us. Then he'll sing small." 
 
 But the old commercial councillor was far from 
 singing small, as it turned out. 
 
280 FIRST-CLASS MEN 
 
 During the long conversation between Hildegarde 
 and Blsa, the Baroness had considered it her duty 
 to inform her new friend in regard to her family 
 conditions, to admit honestly that her parents had 
 sent her to the capital year after year to catch a rich 
 husband. With tears, she confessed her love for 
 George, and declared she would give him up before 
 she would have him think for a second that she loved 
 him for his money. At first Elsa was aghast over 
 what she heard. Then she felt sincere pity for Hilde- 
 garde, for every word the latter spoke showed clearly 
 her goodness and nobility. Thereupon Elsa comforted 
 her the best she could, and gave her the assurance 
 that George would not doubt her, that his love would 
 only increase when he learned what sad experiences 
 had been hers. Elsa also undertook to inform her 
 father of what Hildegarde had told her. The old 
 man was shocked, and at first said to his son: 
 *' George, keep away. Give up the thought of Hilde- 
 garde. Don't get dragged into the dirty stories of 
 her family." But his resistance melted after he had 
 seen the girl, and talked with her confidentially. He 
 took his son aside : " George, she is an angel. We 
 must make her happy and indemnify her by a life 
 free from care for all the poor thing has had to en- 
 dure." 
 
 They sat down together to consider what could be 
 done for Hildegarde's relatives. She had stated the 
 amount of the indebtedness as far' as she remembered 
 it from her last visit at home. Finally it was agreed 
 that the elder Winkler should take care of one-half 
 
FIRST-CLASS MEN 281 
 
 the debts, while George should pay the other half 
 out of Ms future share of inheritance. In addition, 
 the commercial councillor would set aside a fixed 
 amoutit annually as an allowance for her parents, 
 so that they might be protected against all worry. 
 
 It was more difficult to agree as to what should 
 be done for Fritz. George was willing to assume 
 the obligation to make his brother-in-law a monthly 
 allowance ; but Hildegarde shook her head. " That's 
 of no use, George, because if you in your goodness were 
 to give him thousands upon thousands, it would 
 only be money thrown away. The more Fritz has, the 
 more he spends. No amount will suffice for him, he 
 would steadily borrow of us, he would not stop gamb- 
 ling, and if we did not come to his assistance, he would 
 again sign promissory notes, and before long be as 
 heavily in debt as he is now. It is hard for me, as 
 his sister, to say it, but I can see only one salvation 
 for Fritz. He must take off the uniform and go 
 across the ocean. He will never have sense till he has 
 to work, until he is obliged to earn something, and 
 thereby learns to appreciate the value of money." 
 
 " Hildegarde is right," said the commercial coun- 
 cillor, " in short, she is the most sensible girl I have 
 ever known. If she, knowing her brother best, tells 
 us there is no other means of salvation for him but 
 the change of air, he must have it. Let him go to the 
 other side, I have business relations there, and can 
 find him a position. I shall see to it that he doesn't 
 starve, but he will only get enough to be saved from 
 the worst, and will be forced to earn his living." 
 
282 FIB8T-CLAS8 MEN 
 
 This had been decided upon before the major and 
 his son arrived. The iron will expressed in the whole 
 demeanor of the commercial councillor did not give 
 the two noblemen any chance to carry out their inten- 
 tions and to show their superciliousness. They hardly 
 knew how it came about. But they faced the old 
 gentleman with bad consciences, when he Urged his 
 inquiries into their debts, and announced to them in 
 what way they must be regulated. 
 
 Fritz thought he did not hear right, when he was 
 told he must leave the army. He resisted as long as 
 he could, but he felt his desperate position. He 
 knew he could hold out at best only for a few weeks. 
 It might be better to go now. If he had to go, how- 
 ever, there was no use in paying his debts. He might 
 just as weU keep on owing the money. He stated this 
 to the commercial councillor, and told him he ought 
 to save his cash, and give him a few thousand marks 
 to help him on his way. 
 
 " So you may gamble them away while on the 
 steamer? No, no. Besides, in our ' Buergerlicher ' 
 circles we hold it as a matter of honor to discharge 
 obligations. You, a member, of the caste designated 
 nowadays as 'first-class men,' think differently, eh? 
 I should not have expected it." 
 
 Fritz felt embarrassed. Father and son were both 
 glad when Blsa sent to inquire whether they were 
 ready for breakfast, thereby bringing the conversation 
 to a close. 
 
 The major was in the seventh heaven, and in a 
 most jovial mood. His debts were to be paid, he 
 
FIRST-CLASS MEN 283 
 
 would have an extra allowance besides. He need no 
 longer grant an allowance to his son, and therefore he 
 could live free from care. True, it did not quite suit 
 him that Fritz must go across the ocean; but, since 
 the commercial councillor insisted on it, that favor 
 might be granted him. Possibly, Fritz might make 
 a rich marriage on the other side. In certain circles 
 there they would be willing enough to gild his no- 
 bility. Besides, America was not so remote. He 
 could come back at any time. He whispered this to 
 his son when he was alone with him for a moment, 
 and Fritz made the best of an awkward situation. 
 Father and son enjoyed the excellent breakfast par- 
 ticipated in by the whole company. They did not 
 notice the rather frosty atmosphere prevailing. The 
 following day the commercial councillor was to go 
 home with his children and with Hildegarde. 
 
 George having handed in his resignation the day 
 before, had invited the /Yellow Butterilies to a fine 
 dinner. At six o'clock the whole corps of officers) 
 assembled in the gayly decorated rooms of the finest 
 hotel. Winkler, who hated from the bottom of his 
 heart everything bordering on snobbery, had this 
 time ordered the best and most expensive in the mar- 
 ket. French champagne flowed freely, the choicest 
 wines, the best and most costly dishes were selected. 
 
 As host, George took his place between the com- 
 mander and the officer next in rank, and felt greatly 
 amused on noticing how the colonel began to medi- 
 tate concerning the address he was to make. 
 
 "What is he going to say?" George thought. 
 *' Does the man not perceive that this farewell dinner 
 
284 FIB8T-CLA88 MEN 
 
 is given from mere derision? There is not one man 
 around this table but is glad of my going, yet they 
 all come to eat at my expense and to get drunk more 
 or less." 
 
 George welcomed his guests with a few words, and 
 wished them an enjoyable evening. He could not say 
 more, he could not force himself to express pleasure 
 at being again with his dear old comrades. His 
 words barely sufficed for courtesy. He was curious 
 to know what the commander would reply. At last 
 the colonel rapped for silence and rose. With him 
 rose the whole corps of officers. 
 
 " Gentlemen," the colonel began, amid solemn si- 
 lence, " we are assembled to-day for the last time 
 with the dear comrade who leaves not only us, but the 
 army, in order to enter the factory, of his father as 
 partner and co-worker. Although it is the usual cus- 
 tom that the man who leaves is the guest of the corps 
 of officers on the last day, we appear as guests, not 
 as hosts, because we believe thereby we can show you, 
 dear Winkler, in the most unmistakable way, how 
 glad we are to be with you once more. It would 
 have been only our traditional duty to invite you, 
 while no duty requires that we should have accepted 
 your invitation in a body. That of all invited not one 
 stayed away you, dear Winkler, may take as an elo- 
 quent token that of those assembled around you not 
 one has the least against you. I cannot and will not 
 deny that differences have existed temporarily be- 
 tween you and the other gentlemen. This evening 
 proves to you that everything has been settled amica- 
 bly. With sincere regret we see you leave our circle, 
 
FIRST-CLASS MEN 285 
 
 to vpliicli you have belonged for a short time only. 
 Our good wishes for your future well-being we will 
 centre in the shout: Our former regimental comrade. 
 Lieutenant Winkler. Hurra ! Hurra ! Hurra ! " 
 
 "Lilie the words with which they greeted me at 
 first are the words with which they take leave," 
 thpught George during the commander's speech. 
 " jSTot a single hearty expression, only a steady varia- 
 tion of the theme: What nice, dear, good fellows we 
 are to come here to-day for your sake." 
 
 The "Hurra" was given, the music fell in, and 
 played TJhland's popular song : 
 
 " I had once a good comrade. 
 His better you'll never find." 
 
 " That's the last straw," thought George, and a 
 sensation of bitterness rose within him. " Falsehood 
 and hypocrisy to the end." 
 
 The colonel engaged Hm in conversation, and 
 George's thoughts were far away, though he was ap- 
 parently listening with attention to the descriptton 
 of a war episode. He saw around him his comrades, 
 who were partly drunk by this time, mostly of mere 
 pleasure at being rid of him, and who would soon be 
 drunk to the last degree. Suddenly he was seized, he 
 did not know why, by a sensation of joy that he was no 
 longer a member of a class which does not look seri- 
 ously enough upon life and work, a class that is not 
 conscious of its ideal task: To be the educators of 
 young Germany. 
 
 THE END.