I don't think anyone ever heard of Frederick promoting a man out of his turn, save for merit; and I suppose there is no one in the army who has won his rank more worthily, and who is more generally recognized as deserving it.

I have never heard a single word raised against the honours he has received.
"When he rides through the camp men nudge each other and say, 'That young fellow in staff uniform is Major Drummond;' and there is not a soldier but tries to put a little extra respect into his salute." "Are you joking, Ronsfeldt ?" Ritzer asked in astonishment.
"I was never less so, Ritzer;" and he then gave them an account of the manner in which Fergus had obtained his promotion.
The two officers were silent when Ronsfeldt concluded.
"We have made fools of ourselves," Stauffen said at last, "and we must apologize, Ritzer." "Certainly we must," the other agreed heartily.

"It seemed to us that his trying to make us put aside the respect due to his rank was a sort of affectation, and really impressed it more disagreeably upon us.

We took him for an upstart favourite; though we might have known, had we thought of it, that the king never promotes unduly.

Who could possibly have believed that a young fellow, not yet twenty, I should say, could have so distinguished himself?
It will be a lesson to us both not to judge by appearances." The day was cold and cheerless, and after an hour spent on the rampart most of the party were glad to return to the casemates.
Fergus was one of the last to go back.