(standing by the carriage)
I will let down the steps for your honor.
No sooner does the Chevalier enter than the officer jumps in after him, another mounts the box by the coachman, and the latter begins to drive.
CHEVALIER
Good gracious! What is this?
PRUSSIAN OFFICER
(touching his hat)
You are going to drive to the frontier.
CHEVALIER
It is shameful -- infamous! I insist upon being put down at the Austrian ambassador's house.
PRUSSIAN OFFICER
I have orders to gag your honor if you cry out, and to give you this purse containing ten thousand frederics if you do not.
CHEVALIER
Ten thousand? But the scoundrel owes me seventy thousand.
PRUSSIAN OFFICER
Your honor must lower his voice.
CHEVALIER
(whispering)
All Europe shall hear of this!
PRUSSIAN OFFICER
As you please.
Both lapse into silence.
The coach drives by. Suddenly -- "boom," the alarm cannon begins to roar.
PRUSSIAN OFFICER
Do not be alarmed. The alarm cannon only signals a deserter.
Chevalier nods.
The coach drives by and action as described.
RODERICK (V.O.)
Hearing the sound of the alarm cannon, the common people came out along the road, with fowling-pieces and pitch-forks, in hopes to catch the truant. The gendarmes looked very anxious to be on the lookout for him too. The price of a deserter was fifty crowns to those who brought him in.
The black and white barriers came in view at last hard by Bruck, and opposite them the green and yellow of Saxony. The Saxon custom-house officers came out.
CHEVALIER
I have no luggage.
PRUSSIAN OFFICER
The gentleman has nothing contraband.
The Prussian officers, grinning, hand the Chevalier the purse and take their leave of their prisoner with much respect.
The Chevalier de Belle Fast gives them three frederic apiece.
CHEVALIER
Gentlemen, I wish you a good day. Will you please go to the house from whence we set out this morning, and tell my man there to send my baggage on to Three Kings at Dresden?
RODERICK (V.O.)
Then ordering fresh horses, the Chevalier set off on his journey for that capital. I need not tell you that I was the Chevalier.
Roderick reading a letter over his breakfast in bed.
CHEVALIER (V.O.)
From the Chevalier de Belle Fast to Roderick James, Esquire, Gentilhomme Anglais. At the Hotel des trois Couronnes, Dresden, Saxe. My dear Roderick -- This comes to you by a sure hand, no other than Mr. Lumpit, of the English mission, who is acquainted, as all Berlin will be directly, with our wonderful story. They only know half as yet; they only know that a deserter went off in my clothes, and all are in admiration of your cleverness and valor.
Action as per description in letter.
CHEVALIER (V.O.)
As I lay in my bed two and a half hours after your departure, in comes your ex-captain, Galgenstein.
CAPTAIN GALGENSTEIN
(in his imperious Dutch manner)
Roderick! Are you there? No answer.