"The two with me are both lieutenants, and I should feel a little surprised if they did not pay me the usual respect." "Yes, but then you are the older man, and would naturally take the lead, in any case.

To me, I can assure you, it is most disagreeable to have men much older than myself insisting upon treating me as their superior officer; especially as, their regiment having only recently joined us, I suppose they set me down as some young favourite or other, who has got his promotion over the heads of deserving officers because he is related to someone in power." "They ought to know that there is not much promotion to be gained in that way in our army, major.

The king is the last man who would promote anyone for that cause.

Why, Schwerin's son has served for four years and is still a cornet in our regiment! No doubt the king would be glad to promote him if he specially distinguished himself, but as he has had no opportunity of doing so, he will probably work his way up in the regiment as everyone else does." Two or three more officers came up and joined the party, and presently Captain Ronsfeldt strolled away and joined another group.
It was not long before he engaged Stauffen and Ritzer in conversation.
"You have Major Drummond in with you, have you not ?" "Yes," Stauffen said shortly.

"Who is the young fellow, do you know him ?" "Yes, he first joined our regiment as junior cornet.