Lischen, waiting outside the house, with a saddled horse, throws her arms around him, and makes the tenderest adieu.
Roderick mounts his newly-purchased animal, waves his hat gallantly, and, prances away down the street.
Roderick happily riding along a wooded country road, rounds a blind bend and sees suddenly before him, about two hundred yards away, a company of Prussian infantry resting along the sides of the road, together with a dozen mounted dragoons.
A quick calculation tells him that is is better to proceed than to turn back, and he rides into their midst, approaching a group of officers.
He presents himself as Lieutenant Lakenham and asks for directions to join his regiment. He is told that he is riding in the wrong direction, and is shown a map.
During the explanation, Captain Galgenstein approaches with an open, smiling countenance, introduces himself, and says he, too, is bound for the same place, and asks if Roderick will honor him with his company.
To avoid suspicion, Roderick readily accepts the offer, and the two men mount up, and ride off together.
Roderick and Galgenstein riding together.
Dialogue under voice over.
RODERICK (V.O.)
My companion treated me with great civility, and asked me a thousand questions about England, which I answered as best I might. But this best, I am bound to say, was bad enough. I knew nothing about England, and I invented a thousand stories which I told him; described the king and the ministers to him, said the British ambassador in Berlin was my uncle, and promised my acquaintance a letter of recommendation to him.
CAPTAIN GALGENSTEIN
What is your uncle's name?
RODERICK
(slowly)
O'Grady.
CAPTAIN GALGENSTEIN
(with a laugh)
Oh, yes, of course, Ambassador O'Grady...
Roderick and Captain Galgenstein. Their horses' heads together, jogging on.
They pass a party of recruits under the armed guard of a red-coated Hanoverian sergeant.
He exchanges signs of recognition with Captain Galgenstein.
CAPTAIN GALGENSTEIN
It hurts my feelings to be obliged to commune with such wretches, but the stern necessities of war demand men continually, and hence these recruiters whom you see market in human flesh. They get five-and-twenty thaler a man from our government for every man they bring in. For fine men -- for men like you.
(he adds laughing)
They would go as high as hundred.
Roderick and Captain Galgenstein approach a very lonely-looking place.
CAPTAIN GALGENSTEIN
This is a very good inn. Shall we stop for dinner?
RODERICK
This may be a very good inn for Germany, but it would not pass in old Ireland. Corbach is only a league off, let us push on for Corbach.
CAPTAIN GALGENSTEIN
Do you want to see the loveliest woman in Europe?
Roderick smiles.
CAPTAIN GALGENSTEIN
Ah! You sly rogue, I see that will influence you.
RODERICK
The place seems more a farm than an inn-yard.
CAPTAIN GALGENSTEIN
The people are great farmers, as well as inn-keepers.
They enter by a great gate into a court, walled round, and at on end of which is the building, a dingy ruinous place.
A couple of covered wagons are in the courtyard; their horses are littered under a shed hard by.
Lounging about the place are some men, and a pair of sergeants in the Prussian uniform, who both touch their hats to the captain.
The inn has something foreboding about it, and the men shut the great yard-gates as soon as they enter.
CAPTAIN GALGENSTEIN
(explaining the gate)
Parties of French horsemen are about the country, and one cannot take too many precautions against such villains.
The two sergeant take charge of the horses; the captain orders one of them to take Roderick's valise to his bedroom.
Roderick promises the sergeant a glass of schnapps for his pains.