In the mean time, pray take notice that I am Captain Hugo Gottfried, officer-in-waiting to the Prince Karl of Plassenburg, and that my sword is wholly at your service." "You are," retorted Von Reuss, "the son of my uncle Casimir's Hereditary Executioner, and one day you may be mine.

Let that be sufficient honor for you." "That I may be yours is the only part of my father's hereditary office I covet!" said I, pointedly.
And certainly I had him there, for immediately he turned on his heel and would have walked away.
But this I could not permit.

So I strode sharply after him, and seizing him by his embroidered shoulder-strap, I wheeled him about.
"But, sir," said I, "you have insulted an officer of the Prince.

Will you answer for that with your sword, or must I strike you on the face each time I meet you to quicken your sense of honor ?" Before he had time to answer the Prince came in.
"What, quarrelling already, young Spitfire!" he cried.

"I made you my orderly--not my disorderly." Von Reuss and I stood blankly enough, looking away from one another.
"What was the quarrel ?" asked the Prince, when he had seated himself at table.
I looked to Von Reuss to explain.