'Scoundrel and monster,' said he, 'I shall have the consolation of sending you out of the world before I die.' He was shot that day.
He offered to write to the King, if the officers would agree to let his letter go sealed into the hands of the postmaster; but they feared, no doubt, that something might be said to inculpate themselves, and refused him the permission.

At the next review Frederick treated them, it is said, with great severity, and rebuked them for not having granted the Frenchman his request.

However, it was the King's interest to conceal the matter, and so it was, as I have said before, hushed up--so well hushed up, that a hundred thousand soldiers in the army knew it; and many's the one of us that has drunk to the Frenchman's memory over our wine, as a martyr for the cause of the soldier.

I shall have, doubtless, some readers who will cry out at this, that I am encouraging insubordination and advocating murder.

If these men had served as privates in the Prussian army from 1760 to 1765, they would not be so apt to take objection.