Chapter 2 Summary

Colonel Lanser and his five officers take over several rooms on an upper floor of the Palace. The five officers is a varied group. Major Hunter who is an engineer is dependable and practical to a fault. The Major is not really a military man; rather, he is an arithmetician—a man of numbers. Only in the case of war and a lack of manpower was Major Hunter ever considered for the command of men. Captain Bentick, a family man who lacks ambition, is too old to be a captain. The Captain is a great admirer of the British country gentleman. When off duty, he opts to wear English clothes, keeps English dogs and has a favorite English pipe. He subscribes to English country magazines that focus on gardens and English setters. Captain Bentick's mind is rarely on things military.

The polar...