“Old-fashioned.”
“I flatter myself; hate all modern follies. Modern technique, especially the technique of arms, also the modern mode of warfare interests me. Your Royal Highness is far too little interested in such things. Here are the experiences of the Russo-Japanese campaign....”
“I know them. There is some of that in Veresayef’s ‘Recollections of a Physician,’ and in Leonid Andreyef’s ‘Red Laughter.’”
“Your Royal Highness reads bad books with the rest.”
“A piece of genuine good fortune that my royal father has not commissioned you to censor my reading.”
“But his Majesty recommended me to procure useful books for Your Royal Highness.”
“Yes, yes; those dealing with military science and Byzantine history. But I throw aside all such rubbish.”
“And read socialistic pamphlets.”
“What if I do? The social question interests me.”
“Me, too. Must be settled. I know how to.”