CHAPTER PAGE PREFACE v I. BY COMMAND OF THE EMPEROR 9 II. INTRODUCED TO THE REGIMENT 28 III. AMONG THE ARISTOCRACY 47 IV. A GAME OF CARDS 71 V. HILDEGARDE AND GEORGE 95 VI. MILITARY MORALS 128 VII. AN ARISTOCRATIC HOUSEHOLD 166 VIII. THE WAGES OF SIN 221 IX. THE HUMILIATION OF THE "GOLDEN BUTTERFLIES" 241 X. AN OFFER OF MARRIAGE 278 XI. FAREWELL TO THE ARMY! 311 LIFE IN A GERMAN CRACK REGIMENT CHAPTER I BY COMMAND OF THE EMPEROR THE "Yellow Butterflies," as Franz Ferdinand Leopold's infantry regiment was called on account of its yellow epaulettes, was celebrating its anniversary; the day when, more than forty years ago, it lost in a famous battle a third of its rank and file and more than half of its officers. The memory of the heroic deeds of the regiment could not be allowed to perish; the younger generation were continually reminded of them, and thus the celebration of the anniversary of the famous battle was accompanied by the toast: "In remembrance of the fallen; for the encouragement of the living." The fallen, for what they had done, were given every year a magnificent wreath tied with a gigantic ribbon of the regimental colours; the living, who had as yet done nothing, were given a splendid dinner with equally splendid wine: and when the enthusiasm aroused by the official speech of the colonel, under the influence of the champagne, had done its work, the officers all declared again and again that when the regiment went into battle they would know how to die as bravely as their comrades--and they really meant what they swore.