The lieutenant did not look offended, so he went on: "The count hadn't so many, and none at all of this sort."
He stole another glance to assure himself that he had not displeased his master, and then added: "The count only had books about horses, and a few about women, and the Regulations for cavalry-exercise."
At this Reimers could not help laughing, and his "Hold your tongue," did not sound to Gähler particularly angry.
But if Count Vocking possessed fewer books than the lieutenant, he apparently surpassed him greatly in other respects.
As Gähler was arranging the washhand stand, he remarked: "The count had lots of little boxes and bottles, with real silver tops."
And when he fetched Reimers some sandwiches and a glass of beer for lunch from the kitchen on the ground floor, he informed his master, "The count had his own kitchen, and used to drink Burgundy at lunch."
And here another result of his training in the Vocking household came to light. In a few moments the table was covered with a clean cloth, with knife, fork, and spoon neatly in place; and it was certainly not the rough maid down below in the simple kitchen to whom it had occurred to decorate the dish so prettily with parsley and radishes. The meal looked far more appetising than usual, and this was Gähler's work.
"Where did you get the radishes from?" Reimers asked.
"The cook gave them to me, sir," his servant replied.
"So you are at it again, making yourself agreeable?"