Prussians against Austrians, or French, or Saxons. Roderick fighting.
RODERICK (V.O.)
I do not intend to make a history of battles in the Prussian any more than in the English service. I did my duty in them as well as another, and there was not a braver, cleverer, handsomer, and, I must own, wickeder soldier in the Prussian army.
RODERICK
I had formed myself to the condition of the proper fighting beast; on a day of action, I was savage and happy.
Roderick saves Captain Galgenstein's life.
Roderick is decorated by Colonel Bulow for his heroism in saving Captain Galgenstein.
Colonel Bulow gives Roderick two Frederic d'or in front of the regiment.
COLONEL BULOW
You are a gallant soldier, and have evidently come of good stock; but you are idle, dissolute, and unprincipled; you have done a deal of harm to the men; and, for all your talents and bravery, I am sure you will come to no good.
RODERICK
I hope Colonel Bulow is mistaken regarding my character. I have fallen into bad company, it is true; but I have only done as other soldiers have done; and, above all, I have never had a kind friend and protector before, to whom I might show that I was worthy of better things. The Colonel may say I am a ruined lad, and send me to the devil; but be sure of this, I would go to the devil to serve the regiment.
Captain Galgenstein looks pleased with Roderick's performance.
RODERICK (V.O.)
Soon after the war ended, our regiment was garrisoned in the capital, the least dull, perhaps, of all the towns of Prussia; but that does not say much for its gaiety.
Roderick enters and approaches the Captain's sergeant.
RODERICK
Private Roderick James. First Hanoverian Guards. Captain Galgenstein sent for me.
PRUSSIAN SERGEANT
You may wait.
RODERICK
Thank you, sir.
Roderick stands stiffly. We can make out the sound of loud talking behind the closed door.
Enter a private huffing and puffing.
PRIVATE
Sergeant, the wagon has arrived with the Captain's furniture, but the driver says he is not supposed to unload it. Is it possible for you to talk to him?
Exit the sergeant, muttering. Roderick, now alone in the office, walks closer to the door so that he can hear what is being said.
MINISTER GALGENSTEIN (O.S.)
Give him his discharge! Bon Dieu! You are a model of probity! You'll never succeed to my place, my dear nephew, if you are no wiser than you are just now. Make the fellow as useful to you as you please. You say he has a good manner and a frank countenance, that he can lie with assurance, and fight, you say, on a pinch. The scoundrel does not want for good qualities. As long as you have the regiment in terrorem over him, you can do as you like with him. Once let him loose, and the lad is likely to give you the slip. Keep on promising him; promise to make him a general, if you like. What the deuce do I care? There are spies enough to be had in this town without him.
Roderick hears the sergeant returning and walks back to the door.
Then the office door opens, Captain Galgenstein looks out, sees Roderick, smiles and say:
CAPTAIN GALGENSTEIN
Good morning, Private James. Please come in. I should like you to meet my uncle, Herr Minister of Police Galgenstein.
RODERICK
How do you do, sir?
The Minister nods.
RODERICK (V.O.)
The captain was the nephew and heir of the Minister of Police, Herr Galgenstein, a relationship which, no doubt, aided in the younger gentlemen's promotion.
CAPTAIN GALGENSTEIN
Your loyalty to me and your service to the regiment has pleased me very well -- and now there is another occasion on which you may make yourself useful to us; if you succeed, depend on it, your reward will be your discharge from the army, and a bounty of 100 guineas.
RODERICK
What is the service, sir?
CAPTAIN GALGENSTEIN
There is lately come to Berlin a gentleman in the service of the Empress Queen, who calls himself the Chevalier de Belle Fast, and wears the red riband and star of the pope's order of the Spur. He is made for good society, polished, obliging, a libertine, without prejudices, fond of women, of good food, of high play, prudent and discreet.
The Captain smiles at Roderick.
CAPTAIN GALGENSTEIN
He speaks Italian and French indifferently; but we have some reason to fancy this Monsieur de Belle Fast is a native of your country of Ireland, and that he has come here as a spy.
The Captain rises and begins to pace back and forth.
CAPTAIN GALGENSTEIN
Naturally, your knowledge of English makes you an ideal choice to go into his service. Of course, you will not know a word of English; and if the Chevalier asks as to the particularity of your accent, say you are Hungarian. The servant who came with him will be turned away today, and the person to whom he has applied for a faithful fellow will recommend you.
Roderick nods.
CAPTAIN GALGENSTEIN
You are a Hungarian; you served in the army, and left on account of weakness in the loins. He gambles a great deal, and wins. Do you know the cards well?
RODERICK
Only a very little, as soldiers do.
CAPTAIN GALGENSTEIN
I had thought you more expert. You must find out if the Chevalier cheats. He sees the English and Austrian envoys continually, and the young men of either ministry sup repeatedly at his house. Find out what they talk of, for how much each plays, especially if any of them play on parole. If you are able to, read his private letters, though about those which go to the post, you need not trouble yourself -- we look at them there. But never see him write a note without finding out to whom it goes, and by what channel or messenger. He sleeps with the keys of his dispatch-box with a string around his neck -- twenty frederics, if you get an impression of the keys.
MINISTER GALGENSTEIN
Does this assignment interest you?
RODERICK
Yes, Minister, I am interested in any work in which I can be of service to Captain Galgenstein.
The Minister studies Roderick, coldly.
Roderick, now dressed in civilian clothes, admires a beautiful carriage, waiting at the door. Then he enters.
CHEVALIER
You are the young man who M. de Seebach recommended?
RODERICK
Yes, sir. Here is my letter.
Roderick bows, and hands him a letter from that gentleman, with which the Captain had taken care to provide him.
As the Chevalier reads the letter, Roderick has the leisure to examine him.