The hideous old woman brings in a pot of very sour wine, at which, and at her ugliness, Roderick feels a considerable ill-humor.
RODERICK
(when she leaves)
Where's the beauty you promised me?
CAPTAIN GALGENSTEIN
(laughing and looking hard at Roderick)
It was my joke. I was tired, and did not care to go farther. There's not prettier woman here than that. If she won't suit your fancy, my friend, then you must wait awhile.
This increases Roderick's ill-humor.
RODERICK
(sternly)
Upon my word, sir, I think you have acted very coolly.
CAPTAIN GALGENSTEIN
I have acted as I think fit. Sir, I'm a British officer.
CAPTAIN GALGENSTEIN
It's a lie! You're a deserter! You're an impostor, sir; Your lies and folly have confirmed this to me. You pretend to carry dispatches to a general who has been dead these ten months; you have an uncle who is an ambassador and whose name you don't know. Will you join and take the bounty, sir, or will you be given up?
RODERICK
Neither! Springing at him like a tiger.
But, agile as he is, Galgenstein is equally on his guard. He takes two pistols out of his pockets, fires one off, and says, from the other end of the table where he stands dodging Roderick, as it were.
CAPTAIN GALGENSTEIN
Advance a step, and I send this bullet into your brains!
The door is flung open, and the two sergeants enter, armed with musket and bayonet to aid their captain.
The game is up. Roderick flings down a knife with which he had armed himself, for the old hag, on bringing in the wine, had removed his sword.
RODERICK
I volunteer.
Prussian troops on the march. Roderick is now one of them.
Captain Galgenstein rides by.
RODERICK (V.O.)
At the close of the Seven Years' War, the Prussian army, so renowned for its disciplined valor, was officered and under-officered by native Prussians, it is true, but was composed for the most part of men hired or stolen, like myself, from almost every nation in Europe. The deserting to and fro was prodigious.
Prussian punishment gauntlet.
RODERICK (V.O.)
The life the private soldier led was a frightful one to any but the men of iron courage and endurance. The punishment was incessant.
RODERICK (V.O.)
I was not near so unhappy, in spite of all, as I had been on my first enlisting in Ireland. At least, there will be no one of my acquaintance who will witness my shame, and that is the point which I have always cared for most.
Rape, pillage and burn.
Brief thematic repeat of British army version.
RODERICK (V.O.)
I reasoned with myself thus: "Now you are caught, there is no use in repining -- make the best of your situation, and get all the pleasure you can out of it. There are a thousand opportunities of plunder, offered to the soldier in war time, out of which he can get both pleasure and profit; make use of these, and be happy."
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.