There were five of them including the leader who stood at the end nearest Dragonfel and the others—all diminutive, moustached men with big noses, whose frayed, soiled uniforms fitted them very badly indeed. Their trousers at the ends were rolled up a number of times over, and their coats which hung on them like bags actually reached almost to their shoe-tops.
Upon the chest of the one who stood next to the leader were pinned a great variety of medals, and he seemed to be very proud of them, since no one else boasted a decoration of any kind.
The little audience grouped about the throne gazed at them expectantly, and Titania thought the leader winked at her. But apparently he did not notice anyone, and least of all Dragonfel. His whole attention seemed to be centred on his band.
“Are ve all here alretty?” he asked.
“Yah!” came in chorus.
“Vell,” said he, “I vill broceed der gall der roll-gall. ‘Louie Knobloch!’”
“I vass here,” said the one with the medals next to him.
“Peter Dinkelspeil!”
“Here I vass.”