"Major, I presume?"
"Go on," replied the officer.
"Lieutenant-colonel?"
"Yes, you have guessed it at last, but you have taken some trouble to discover my rank."
The low bow of the emperor made the man with the pipe conclude he was speaking to an inferior, so, without much ceremony, he said, "Pray, who are you? for I conclude you are in the army."
"Guess," replied the emperor, much amused with the adventure.
"Lieutenant?"
"Go on."
"Captain?"
"Much higher."