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210 I have paid my company—'tis mine.

I bow but to headquarters.

So?—In faith!

That will suffice.

I can despise your taunts; 'Tis well known how I bear me in the war; At Bapaume, yesterday, they saw the rage With which I beat back the Count of Bucquoi; Assembling my own men, I fell on his,

And charged three separate times!

And your white scarf!

You know that detail?… Troth! it happened thus: While caracoling to recall the troops For the third charge, a band of fugitives Bore me with them, close by the hostile ranks: I was in peril—capture, sudden death!— When I thought of the good expedient To loosen and let fall the scarf which told My military rank; thus I contrived —Without attention waked—to leave the foes, And suddenly returning, reinforced With my own men, to scatter them! And now,

—What say you, Sir? [The pretend not to be listening, but the