Tell
them that I will come to them at nine o'clock tonight, and we will swear
fidelity.'"
"And a damned good speech too--bagosh!" cried the mealman, his fingers
hungering for the gold pieces. "We're to be captains pretty soon--eh?"
asked Muroc.
"As quick as I've taught you to handle a company," answered Lagroin, with
importance.
"I was a patriot in '37," said Muroc. "I went against the English; I held
abridge for two hours. I have my musket yet."
"I am a patriot now," urged Duclosse. "Why the devil not the English
first, then go to France, and lick the Orleans!"
"They're a skittish lot, the Orleans; they might take it in their heads
to fight," suggested Muroc, with a little grin.
"What the devil do you expect?" roared the blacksmith, blowing the
bellows hard in his excitement, one arm still round his daughter's
shoulder. "D'you think we're going to play leap-frog into the Tuileries?
There's blood to let, and we're to let it!"
"Good, my leeches!" said Parpon; "you shall have blood to suck. But we'll
leave the English be. France first, then our dogs will take a snap at the
flag on the citadel yonder.
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