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missioned officer; no punishment was laid upon me, but I was even soon to be dismissed….”
“What was it for?”
“Well, I will tell you, sir, what happened to me….”
II.
“I entered the army in 1874. It was a squadron of recruits, and I fulfilled my duties, I can say, very well. I did everything with much zeal, according to order. As I knew how to write and read fairly well the authorities kept eye upon me. Our major was my compatriot, and he, seeing my grief, called me one day to him and said, “Now, Gavriloff, I will introduce you as a candidate for becoming a non-commissioned officer: have you ever been in commissions?”
“No, never, your highness,” I answered.
