In this glad moment he could tolerate them all. Their various defects, whether small or great, now appeared less offensive than of yore; and in any case it was kind of them and a great compliment to him that on this very day of his return they should have arranged a feast. It is true he rather dreaded this feast, which was sure to end in the usual way--general drunkenness--but it was well meant, and there was at least one advantage in it, that he would at once be made acquainted with all the details of garrison gossip; for, though altogether beneath contempt, they must be known in order to avoid giving unintentional offence. At the door of his quarters he found waiting the gunner who had been appointed as his servant. "Gunner Gähler, as servant to Lieutenant Reimers," he announced himself. Reimers took a good look at the man. The sergeant-major seemed to have done well for him in this respect. Gähler was a smart fellow, not exactly tall, but well proportioned, and very clean. His hair smelt a little too strongly of pomade, and wax had not been spared on his fashionably-stiffened moustache. When Reimers drew his bunch of keys out of his pocket to unlock the door, Gähler hastened to take them from his hand, and opened the door for the lieutenant to pass in before him. He quickly laid his bundle of clothes upon a chair, and at once helped to take off Reimer's helmet, shoulder-belt, and scarf. The officer smiled at such excessive zeal. "How is it that you are so well up in this work?" "I was for a time servant to Captain von Wegstetten, sir." "Indeed? And why did you leave him?" Gähler hesitated a little; then he resumed glibly: "Please do not think badly of me, sir. There were difficulties; the servant-girl slandered me; you will understand, sir." He stood there embarrassed, polishing the chin-piece of the helmet with the sleeve of his coat. Reimers felt amused at his choice manner of expressing himself. "So you can't leave the women alone?" he asked. "Well, with me you will not be led into temptation." Gähler modestly demurred: "I beg your pardon, sir; but in that case it was really not at all my fault." The lieutenant laughed. "Oh, all right!" he said; "but before that, where were you?" The gunner drew himself up proudly, and replied with dignity: "I was groom to Count Vocking, in Dresden." "Aha, that accounts for it!" Reimers was no longer surprised. The aristocratic cavalry-officer was considered the richest and smartest sportsman in Germany. First, Reimers asked for his smoking-jacket, and then told Gähler to help him in unpacking the case of books which had just arrived from Suez. Gähler handed him the volumes, and could not help remarking: "You have an awful lot of books, sir!" The lieutenant did not look offended, so he went on: "The count hadn't so many, and none at all of this sort."