Midwinter Town: A Novella
“Sir Mellehov! What sort of a Sir is he? He's… my serving lad, who has hidden himself under a strange name. Tomorrow I'1l make my dog keeper of that Sir; the day after tomorrow I'11 give command to beat that Sir with clubs. And the hetman himself cannot hinder me; for I am a noble, and I know my rights.”
To this Sir Geswer answered more sharply, and his mustaches quivered.
“I am not only a noble, but a colonel, and I know my rights too. You can demand your man, by law, and have recourse to the jurisdiction of the hetman; but I command here, and no one else does.”
Sir Novoveski moderated at once, remembering that he was talking, not only to a commandant, but to his own son's superior, and bes