The old
sergeant's glance was full of fury, Parpon's of a devilish sort of glee.
Valmond approached the lads.
"My children," he said kindly, "you have not learned your lesson well
enough. You shall be taught." He took the paper caps from their heads. "I
will give you better caps than these." He took the hobby-horse, the drum,
and the tin swords. "I will give you better things than these." He put
the caps on the ground, added the toys to the heap, and Parpon, stooping,
lighted the paper. Scattering money among the crowd, and giving some
silver to the lads, Valmond stood looking at the bonfire for a moment,
and then, pointing to it dramatically, said:
"My friends, my brothers, Frenchmen, we will light larger fires than
these. Your young Seigneur sought to do me honour this afternoon. I thank
him, and he shall have proof of my affection in due time. And now our
good landlord's wine is free to you, for one goblet each. My children,"
he added, turning to the little mockers, "come to me to-morrow and I will
show you how to be soldiers. My General shall teach you what to do, and I
will teach you what to say."
Almost instantly there arose the old admiring cries of, "Vive Napoleon!"
and he knew that he had regained his ground.
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