_The C.P._ I have always felt that that must be so. No matter, a time will come. By the way, Fritz, have you packed up the _Sèvres_ dinner-service?
_Fritz._ I have already packed six from as many different French and Belgian houses, and have sent them to Berlin, according to your Royal Highness's directions. Which does your Royal Highness refer to?
_The C.P._ I mean the one with the simple pattern of pink flowers and the coat-of-arms.
_Fritz._ Yes, that I have packed like the rest and have sent off.
_The C.P._ And the silver dishes and the lace?
_Fritz._ Yes, I did in every case what your Royal Highness ordered me to do.
_The C.P._ And you packed them, I hope, with the greatest care?
_Fritz._ I did; nothing, I am certain, will suffer damage.
_The C.P._ Excellent. War is, no doubt, a rough and brutal affair, but at least it cannot be said that we Prussians do not behave like gentlemen.
_Fritz._ Your Royal Highness speaks, as always, the plain truth. How different from the degenerate French and the intolerable English.
_The C.P._ Yes, Fritz; and now you can go. Stay; there was something I wanted to ask you. Dear me, I am losing my memory. Ah! I have it. How is my offensive getting on? Has any news come in from the _Chemin des Dames_?
_Fritz._ Your Royal Highness's offensive has not advanced to any great extent. The French last night recaptured all their positions and even penetrated into ours.
_The C.P._ Did they? How very annoying. Somebody bungled, of course. Well, well, I shall have to put it right when I have time. Have you finished laying out my uniform? Yes. Then you can go.
Where is she now, the pride of the battalion, That ambled always at the Colonel's side, A fair white steed, like some majestic galleon Which takes deliberate the harbour tide, So soft, so slow, she scarcely seems to stir? And that, indeed, was very true of her Who was till late, so kind her character, The only horse the Adjutant could ride.
Ever she led the regiment on its journeys, And held sweet converse with the Colonel's gee: Of knights, no doubt, and old heroic tourneys, And how she bare great ladies o'er the lea; And on high hill-sides, when the men felt dead, Far up the height they viewed her at the head, A star of hope, and shook themselves, and said, "If she can do it, dammit, so can we!"