Short Fiction · Chapter
The Halberdier of the Little Rheinschloss explained
Waiter No.
What happens
Waiter No. 18 recounts the story of a young man who works as a halberdier at the Little Rheinschloss restaurant. The halberdier, secretly a gentleman named Sir Percival Deering, endures menial labor and blistered hands to prove himself to a wealthy old man and win the hand of a young woman. After three months of service, the old man reveals it was a test, and the halberdier is reunited with the woman, who shows him affection.
Themes in this chapter
Deception and Appearance vs. Reality
The halberdier appears to be a mere costume figure but is actually a gentleman undergoing a test; the restaurant's Old-World facade hides a modern American enterprise.
Love and Romance
The halberdier endures hardship to win the love of the young woman, who ultimately embraces him.
Social Class and Wealth
The story contrasts the halberdier's menial job with his true social standing, and the test imposed by the wealthy old man highlights class dynamics.
Characters to notice
- Unknown Narrator
The narrator who converses with Waiter No. 18 and inquires about the broken cigar-case.
- Billy Keogh
Waiter No. 18, who tells the story of the halberdier and serves the narrator.
- The Colonel
The boss of the restaurant, who hires the halberdier and insists on historical authenticity.
- Annie Williams
The young woman who recognizes the halberdier and later shows him affection, referred to as 'the girl' in the story.
- Robert Walmsley
The old man with white side-whiskers who tests Sir Percival Deering by requiring him to earn his own living.
- Jimmy Valentine
Sir Percival Deering, the halberdier who works undercover to prove himself.
Key passages
“‘Mein Gott,’ says he, ‘you vas right. Ein halberdier have not got der right to dish up soup. Him I vill not discharge. Have anoder waiter if you like, und let mein halberdier go back und stand mit his halberd. But, gentlemen,’ he says, pointing to the old man, ‘you go ahead and sue mit der dress. Sue me for $600 or $6,000. I stand der suit.’”
The boss agrees that a halberdier should not serve soup, refuses to fire him, and challenges the old man to sue for damages.
The boss defends the halberdier's role and asserts his willingness to face a lawsuit.
“‘Heavens, boy!’ says old side-whiskers, ‘what have you been doing to ’em?’ ‘Oh,’ says Sir Percival, ‘little chores like hauling coal and excavating rock till they went back on me. And when I couldn’t hold a pick or a whip I took up halberdiering to give ’em a rest. Tureens full of hot soup don’t seem to be a particularly soothing treatment.’”
The old man is shocked by the halberdier's blistered hands, and Sir Percival explains he did hard labor until his hands gave out, then took the halberdier job as a lighter duty.
Reveals the physical toll of Sir Percival's test and his pragmatic choice of work.
“‘I told him,’ says the old guy, ‘if he would earn his own living for three months without being discharged for incompetence, I would give him what he wanted. It seems that the time was up at twelve o’clock tonight.’”
The old man reveals that he set a condition: if Sir Percival could hold a job for three months without being fired, he would grant his wish.
Clarifies the test that Sir Percival has just passed.