My love is with you. And
you and I, true to each other, may come into our own again--over there!"
He pointed to the East.
"Through you and me may France be born again; and in the villages and
fields and houses of Normandy and Brittany you may, as did your
ancestors, live in peace, and bring your bones to rest in that blessed
and honourable ground. My children, my heart is full. Let us move on
together. Napoleon from St. Helena calls to you, Napoleon in Pontiac
calls to you! Will you come?"
Reckless cheering followed; many were carried away into foolish tears,
and Valmond sat still and let them kiss his hand, while pitchers of wine
went round.
"Where is our fakir now, dear monsieur?" said Madame Chalice to De la
Riviere once again.
Valmond got silence with a gesture. He opened his waistcoat, took from
his bosom an order fastened to a little bar of gold, and held it in his
hand.
"Drummer," he said, in a clear, full tone, "call the army to attention."
The old man set their blood tingling with the impish sticks.
"I advance Sergeant Lagroin, of the Old Guard of glorious memory, to the
rank of Captain in my Household Troops, and I command you to obey him as
such.
Pages:
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81