"'You may, Lars Andersson.' The Paymaster, knowing his man, added, 'But it must be a proper and honourable name, and nothing clownish.'
"You remember. Lieutenant, how your father looked. He was a kind man, but just the sight of him put fear into many a one, for he was a big tall man with bushy black eyebrows.
"But the tailor was not afraid—not he! 'Then,' says he, 'I'll call myself Lagerlöf, for that is both an honourable and respected name. I know of no other in all Värmland that sounds so sweet.'
"The Paymaster of the Regiment must have got hot in the head when he heard that that buffoon wanted to call himself Lagerlöf.
"'No, that won't do,' he said. 'We can't have two with the same name in the regiment.'
"'But,' says the tailor, 'there are at least three Ugglas and four Lilliehööks, and it isn't likely anyone would mistake me for the Paymaster.'
"'No. But can't you see, Lars Andersson, that it would never do,' protested the Paymaster.
"'I wouldn't have chosen that name if you hadn't given me leave to call myself whatever I wished.' The tailor made himself appear very humble and serious. 'I know that when the Paymaster of the Regiment gives you his word you can usually go by it.'
"Then there was a long silence. Paymaster Lagerlöf sat studying how he'd get round this. Aside from the fact that it would make him the butt of the regiment,
