The officer glanced at him, and without replying turned again to the soldier.

" I'll teach you to push on!... Back!" "Let them pass, I tell you!" repeated Prince Andrew, compressing his lips.

"And who are you?" cried the officer, turning on him with tipsy rage, "who are you? Are you in command here? Eh? I am commander here, not you! Go back or I'll flatten you into a pancake," repeated he.

This expression evidently pleased him.

"That was a nice snub for the little aide-de-camp," came a voice from behind.