"You are mad to dream of that."
"As you say, I come of a noble house," carelessly.
"You are mad."
"No, count," the soldier replied. "I have what Balzac calls a
thirst for a full life in a short space."
"I would give a deal to read what is going on in that head of
yours."
"Doubtless. But what is to become of our friends the Marshal and
Mollendorf? What will be left for them? Perhaps there will be a
chamber of war, a chamber of the navy. As a naval minister the
Marshal would be nicely placed. There would be no expense of
building ships or paying sailors, which would speak well for the
economy of the new government. The Marshal is old; we shall send
him to Servia. At least the office will pay both his vanity and
purse to an extent equal to that of his present office. By the
way, nothing has yet been heard from Prince Frederick. Ah, these
young men, these plump peasant girls!"
Both laughed.
"Till this evening, then;" and the Colonel went from the room.
The minister of finance applied a match to the tapers. He held
the burning match aloft and contemplated the door through which
the soldier had gone.
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