noon
The waiters received them with sleepy eyes , being just engaged in putting the place to rights ; for it was still very early in the day , and they looked at their guests with something of amazement . The two officers started in on their round of dissipation with several glassfuls of neat brandy , and wound up , late at night , in a resort of doubtful repute . Whoever might have observed them throughout the day , joking and jesting , could not have helped the conclusion that these two had clearly forgotten the events of the morning , and that they had recovered , together with their peace of mind , that superficial good humor which so often distinguishes the conscienceless rascal from the man of finer mould . Next day , at noon , our two heroes arrived at their garrison . They were received with open arms by a number of their comrades , for the rumor of what had occurred had preceded them . A group of officers , in fact , stood on the platform of the little station as they left their train , and after much handshaking and congratulations , all of them accompanied Kolberg to his dwelling , there to celebrate his triumph in a `` drop '' of choice wine . But there were some of the officers , especially the elder ones , who censured Kolberg for his heartless behavior .