He had been
at Fontainebleau when Napoleon bade farewell to the Old Guard, saying:
"For twenty years I have ever found you in the path of honour and glory.
Adieu, my children! I would I were able to press you all to my heart--but
I will at least press your eagle. I go to record the great deeds we have
done together."
When the gossip came to Lagroin, as he sat in his doorway, babbling of
Grouchy and Lannes and Davoust, the Little Corporal outflanking them all
in his praise, his dim blue eyes flared out from the distant sky of youth
and memory, his lips pursed in anger, and he got to his feet, his stick
fiercely pounding the ground.
"Tut! tut!" said he. "A lie! a pretty lie! I knew all the
Napoleons--Joseph, Lucien, Louis, Jerome, Caroline, Eliza, Pauline--all!
I have seen them every one. And their children--pah! Who can deceive me?
I will go to Pontiac, I will see to this tomfoolery. I'll bring the
rascal to the drumhead. Does he think there is no one? Pish! I will spit
him at the first stroke. Here, here, Manette," he cried to his
grand-daughter; "fetch out my uniform, give it an airing, and see to the
buttons.
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