Ah, what joy to serve a Napoleon once again! What
joy! Lord, how I remember--"
"Better than that-eh?" persisted Duclosse, perspiring, the meal on his
face making a sort of paste.
"A general or a governor, my children," said Lagroin. "First in, first
served. Best men, best pickings. But every man must love his chief, and
serve him with blood and bayonet; and march o' nights if need, and limber
up the guns if need, and shoe a horse if need, and draw a cork if need,
and cook a potato if need; and be a hussar, or a tirailleur, or a
trencher, or a general, if need. But yes, that's it; no pride but the
love of France and the cause, and--"
"And Monsieur Valmond," said the charcoalman slyly.
"And Monsieur the Emperor!" cried Lagroin almost savagely.
He caught Parpon's eye, and instantly his hand went to his pocket.
"Ah, he is a comrade, that! Nothing is too good for his friends, for his
soldiers. See!" he added.
He took from his pocket ten gold pieces. "'These are bagatelles,' said
His Excellency to me; 'but tell my friends, Monsieur Muroc and Monsieur
Duclosse and Monsieur Garotte, that they are buttons for the coats of my
sergeants, and that my captains' coats have ten times as many buttons.
Tell them,' said he, 'that my friends shall share my fortunes; that
France needs us; that Pontiac shall be called the nest of heroes. Tell
them that I will come to them at nine o'clock tonight, and we will swear
fidelity.
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