I should like him to be as sober as soldiers in general are, and if he confined himself to taking his wine when I did not require him, it would not be very important, provided that he is not talkative when in liquor.

As to his honesty, he would have no great temptation so far as I am concerned, but I certainly should not wish to lose him by his being strung up by the provost marshal for robbing citizens.

As to his truthfulness, providing he did not lie to me, it is a point on which I should not be particular." There was a general laugh.
"And as to his age ?" the officer asked.
"If I could find all the qualifications that I require, I should not be particular about that; but I think that for choice I would take a lad of from sixteen to twenty." "In that case I fancy that I know a lad who might suit you," one of the other officers said.

"He is a brother of my groom, and I may own that he has been of no little trouble to him.

The boy is an orphan, and having no other friends so far as I know, he has attached himself to his brother, and for the past two years, wherever he has gone Paolo has gone too.