and Noel had tin swords, and we asked Albert's uncle to let us wear some of the real arms that are on the wall in the dining-room.
And he said, 'Yes', if we would clean them up afterwards.

But we jolly well cleaned them up first with Brooke's soap and brick dust and vinegar, and the knife polish (invented by the great and immortal Duke of Wellington in his spare time when he was not conquering Napoleon.
Three cheers for our Iron Duke!), and with emery paper and wash leather and whitening.

Oswald wore a cavalry sabre in its sheath.

Alice and the Mouse had pistols in their belts, large old flint-locks, with bits of red flannel behind the flints.

Denny had a naval cutlass, a very beautiful blade, and old enough to have been at Trafalgar.