an extremely severe discipline is kept up in my troop, which has in some respects the effect of a secret police among ourselves: all can answer for one, and one can answer for all. Each is bound to communicate any misconduct on the part of another to me, and is always rewarded for such communication; but, on the contrary, if he omits so to do, he is severely punished.”
The colonel’s lady could not conceal her aversion to such a barbarous regulation; which the stranger perceiving, shrugged his shoulders.
“We must all accommodate our ideas to our condition. I have found, that if persons of this stamp are not so treated, there is no possibility of governing them. And you may the more confidently rely on my vigilance, as I had the happiness of being born in this place, and in consequence feel a double obligation: first, to the place of my birth; secondly, to his worship.”
“Were you born here?” demanded the colonel’s wife with surprise.
“Yes, my lady; my father was Schurster the schoolmaster, who died lately. But I call myself Calzolaro, finding that my profession succeeds better under an Italian than a German name.”
This explanation redoubled the interest the colonel and his lady already felt for this man, who appeared to have received a tolerable education.
