It mattered nothing to me whether he took me for an Englishman or a Zulu; either answered the purpose.
He wore an eyeglass, through which he surveyed me rather contemptuously.
"What is your name, fraulein ?" he asked turning to Gretchen.
"Gretchen," sweetly.
"And what is the toll for a kiss ?" "Nothing," said Gretchen, looking at me.

The lieutenant started for her, but she waved him off.

"Nothing, Herr Lieutenant, because they are not for sale." I moved closer to the bar.
"Out for a constitutional ?" I asked, blowing the ash from the live coal in my pipe.
"We are on his Majesty's business," with an intonation which implied that the same was none of mine.

"Gretchen, we shall return to-night, so you may lay two plates at a separate table," with an eye on me.

He couldn't have hated me any more than I hated him.