LAKENHAM
Here, you, Roderick James. I will pay you five guineas if you will carry me into the town which is hard by those woods.
Roderick and another man take him up in a cloak, and carry him towards the nearby town of Warburg.
In order to get into the house, Roderick and the other man are obliged to fire into the locks with their pieces, which summons brings the inhabitants of the house to the door; a very pretty and black-eyed, young woman, and her old, half-blinded father.
They are at first unwilling to accommodate the guest, but Mr. Lakenham, speaking to them in German, and taking a couple of guineas out of a very full purse, speedily convinces the people that they have only to deal with a person of honor.
They carry Lieutenant Lakenham to bed and receive their five guineas.
RODERICK (V.O.)
We put the patient to bed, and he paid me the stipulated reward. A young surgeon, who desired nothing better than to take himself out of the fire of the musketry, came presently to dress the wound.
In his German jargon, Roderick pays some deserved compliments to the black-eyed beauty of Warburg, thinking, with no small envy, how comfortable it would be to be billeted there.
He starts back to the regiment, with his comrade, when the man interrupts his reverie by suggesting they divide the five guineas.
PRIVATE
I should get half.
RODERICK
Your share is one guinea. Roderick gives him one guinea.
PRIVATE
He gave you five guineas, and I bloody well expect half.
RODERICK
Go to the devil.
The private lifting his musket, hits Roderick a blow with the butt-end of it, which sends him stunned to the ground, allowing his comrade to take the other four guineas from his pocket.
Recovering his senses, Roderick bleeding, with a large wound in the head, has barely time to stagger back to the house where he had just left the lieutenant, when he falls fainting at the door, just as the surgeon exits.
Roderick is carried by the surgeon and the black-eyed girl, into another bed in the room where the Lieutenant has been laid.
LAKENHAM
(languidly, in pain)
Who are you putting into that bed?
LISCHEN
We have the Corporal, wounded, to you bringing.
LAKENHAM
A corporal? Turn him out. Schicken sie Herrn Koporal weg!
Lischen brings Roderick a refreshing drink; and, as he takes it, he presses the kind hand that gave it to him; nor does this token of his gratitude seem unwelcome.
RODERICK (V.O.)
I found Lischen the tenderest of nurses. Whenever any delicacy was to be provided for the wounded lieutenant, a share was always sent to the bed opposite his, and to the avaricious man's no small annoyance.
Lischen serving food.
Various cuts, representing different days. Lakenham behaving as rottenly as Roderick describes:
RODERICK (V.O.)
Nor was I the only person in the house to whom the worthy gentleman was uncivil. He ordered the fair Lischen hither and thither, made impertinent love to her, abused her soups, quarreled with her omelettes, and grudged the money which was laid out for his maintenance, so that our hostess detested him as much as, I think, without vanity, as she regarded me.
Roderick making lover to Lischen while Lieutenant Lakenham sulks in the next bed.
RODERICK (V.O.)
For if truth must be told, I had made very deep love to her during my stay under her roof, as is always my way with women, of whatever age or degree of beauty. Do not think me very cruel and heartless, ladies; this heart of Lischen's was like many a town, which had been stormed and occupied several times before I came to invest it,
Roderick sitting up in bed. Lischen has just served him his supper.
Enter a British officer, an aide who carries a notebook, and a surgeon. In a brief scene to be written, we learn that a sudden movement on the part of the French requires the British army to follow them. The town is to be evacuated, except for some Prussian line-of-communication troops, whose surgeons are to visit the wounded in the place; and, when they are well, they are to be drafted to their regiments.
RODERICK (V.O.)
I began to reflect how pleasant my quarters were to me, and that I was much better here than crawling under an odious tent with a parcel of tipsy soldiers, or going the night-rounds, or rising long before daybreak for drill. I determined that I never would join mine again.
Roderick stands by the window, watching English troops and wagons leaving the town.
Roderick walks into Lakenham's room attired in his full regimentals, and with his hat cocked over his left eye.
RODERICK
I'm promoted Lieutenant. I've come to take my leave of you. I intend to have your papers and purse.
LAKENHAM
You great scoundrel! You mutinous dog! What do you mean by dressing yourself in my regimentals? As sure as my name's Lakenham, when we get back to the regiment, I'll have your soul cut out of your body.
With this, Roderick puts his hand under his pillow, at which Lakenham gives a scream that might have called the whole garrison about his ears.
Roderick threatens him with a knife at his throat.
RODERICK
Hark ye, sir! No more noise, or you are a dead man!
Roderick, taking his handkerchief, binds it tight round his mouth, and, pulling forward the sleeves of his shirt, ties them in a knot together, and so leaves him, removing the papers and the purse, and wishing him politely a good day.
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.