I will show this brag how one of the Old Guard looked at Saint
Jean. Quick, Manette, my sabre polish; I'll clean my musket, and
to-morrow I will go to Pontiac. I'll put the scamp through his
facings--but yes! I am eighty, but I have an arm of thirty." True to his
word, the next morning at daybreak he started to walk to Pontiac,
accompanied for a mile or so by Manette and a few of the villagers.
"See you, my child," he said, "I will stay with my niece, Desire Malboir,
and her daughter Elise, there in Pontiac. You shall hear how I fetch that
vagabond to his potage!"
Valmond had purchased a tolerable white horse through Medallion. After a
day's grooming the beast showed off very well; and he was now seen riding
about the parish, dressed after the manner of the First Napoleon, with a
cocked hat and a short sword at his side. He rode well, and the silver
and pennies he scattered were most fruitful of effect from the martial
elevation. He happened to be riding into the village at one end as
Sergeant Lagroin entered it at the other, each going towards the Louis
Quinze. Valmond knew nothing of Sergeant Lagroin, so that what followed
was of the inspiration of the moment.
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