S. Fifteen years, colonel.
C. How is it possible that you at your young age came into service?
S. Only my passion for horses induced me to volunteer my services in the most beautiful regiment of France, as trumpeter.
C. Can you ride horseback and take care of horses?
S. At your service, colonel!
C. Where are the many prisoners who have been brought here, according to reports there should be 800.
S. What you see here, colonel, is the sad remainder of those 800 men. The others have died.
C. Is there an epidemic disease in this house?
S. Pardon me, colonel, but those comrades of mine have all died from starvation; for during the six days we are here we received no food.
C. What you say, little fellow, cannot be true, for I have ordered to give you the prescribed rations of bread, meat, and brandy, the same as are given to the Russian soldiers, and this has been the will of the Czar.