A Proud Linguist

Once there was an Austrian empire who made it a rule to interview everyone of his soldiers once a year. During the interview he invariably asked three questions----"How old are you?", "How long have you been in my army?", "Are you satisfied with the food and pay you get?"----in that order.

One year, just one day before the annual interview, a Frenchman got himself enlisted in the Austrian army. Since he knew little German he was on tenterhooks. Then figure out a solution that he could remember the answers to the questions in order. 

The day arrived with all the sound and color that befitted it. The emperor in all his splendour was seated on the throne, his entourage attending respectfully  in the background. The soldiers filed past him, each taking barely half a minute during with time the questions were asked and the answers reverently provided. When the Frenchman's turn came, far from being anxious, he was sure of himself. Because he had recited the answers in proper order, not knowing how many times. The emperor looked at him long and hard and suddenly took it in his head that he had seen the young man some where before.  He began a little out of the usual order, with the second question.

"How long have you been in my army?" 

"Twenty-one years," replied the Frenchman, not without some pride in his ability to learn a foreign language so quickly and so well.

The monarch was surprised, for the young man did not look very old than that, but he went on to asked,

"Then how old are you?"

"One day," come the answer.

That was enough for the Emperor, who sat back and muttered:

"Well,well.That beats me.It seems either you're mad or I am."

Positive that  that was the last of the imperial question, the proud linguist stepped forward and with a smile said, 

"Both, your majesty."

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Everyday a little story to practise the English.