It was not humor exactly, but it was the innate desire to make the best of a bad situation.
"I'm in your hands," he replied, "but I didn't walk willingly into 'em.
Your lieutenant, von Arnheim here, and his men brought me on the points of their lances.

I'm quite willing to go away again." Von Boehlen recognized the spirit in the reply and the malice departed from his own eyes.

Yet he asked sternly: "Why do you put on a French uniform and meddle in a quarrel not your own ?" "I've made it my own.

I take the chances of war." "To the rear with him, and put him with the other prisoners," said von Boehlen to von Arnheim, and the young Prussian and two Uhlans escorted him to the edge of the field where twenty or thirty French prisoners sat on the ground.
"I take it," said von Arnheim, "that you and our captain have met before." "Yes, and the last time it was under circumstances that did not endear me to him." "If it was in war it will not be to your harm.

Captain von Boehlen is a stern but just man, and his conduct is strictly according to our military code.