The students led him home to his lodgings over the river, and installed
themselves as they could, all smoking and talking at once, while he
opened his boxes and disposed some of his belongings in their places.
They told him all the news, with the vivacity of men who have twenty-
four hours the start of a friend. The Rhine Korps had increased its
numbers considerably and seemed already inclined to show its teeth to
the Westphalia Korps. The Saxon Korps had lost one of their best
fighters, who had suddenly gone to another University. Hardly any of
the Prussian Korps had arrived, and it was doubtful whether they could
renew the lease of their old drinking-hall. They themselves--their
yellow caps showed that they were Swabians--were already on the look-
out for new 'foxes' to enlist, and believed that they had secured a
couple of excellent novices. The fencing-master of the Prussians had
declared his intention of fighting a pitched battle--sabres and no
bandages--with the fencing-master of the Rhiners. It was to be hoped
that neither would be badly hurt, as they were both good teachers and
worth their salaries. There was a new waiting-girl at the Stamm-Kneipe
where they dined, and of course all the foxes would fall in love. They,
the fellows, would of course not think of such a thing. It would be
quite beneath their dignity. As for the professors, all those who were
not favourites grew older and older and duller and duller. One of the
oldest and dullest had been married in the summer to a girl of
eighteen, a crying shame which ought to be visited by some
demonstration.
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