Part 32 (1/2)
Again the question was met by silence.
”Messieurs,” said St. Laurent, ”you are old soldiers of the former Emperor. I see. I understand. You love him as I and mine the King.
It is as much as my life is worth, as much as my honor, to condone it.
Yet I would not be a tale-bearer, but this cannot pa.s.s unless----”
”Shall I cut him down where he stands, _Mon Commandant_?” growled the old port-aigle, presenting his weapon.
”And add murder to treason!” exclaimed St. Laurent, his face flus.h.i.+ng a little but not giving back an inch before the threatening approach of the veteran.
There was good stuff in him, evidently, and even those who foresaw terrible consequences to themselves in his unexpected presence could not but admire him. They were even proud that he was a Frenchman, even though he served the King they hated.
”By no means,” said Lestoype, motioning the color-bearer back. ”You shall go as freely as you came.”
”And if you do as I suggest I shall go and forget all I have seen, messieurs.”
”Impossible!”
”Upon my honor I shall do it but on one condition.”
”Ah! and that is?”
”That you give me the Eagle.”
”Give you the Eagle!” exclaimed old Captain Grenier.
”The Eagle for which our brave comrades died,” said Drehon.
”The Eagle which has been carried in triumph in every capital in Europe!” added Suraif.
The whole room was filled with cries again.
”Never! Never!”
The whole ma.s.s surged forward, including Marteau.
”Was it to give it up to any servant of King Louis that I brought it back?” the latter shouted threateningly.
”Gentlemen,” said the young aide so soon as he could make himself heard in the tumult, ”the choice is yours, not mine. I am a soldier of the King, aide-de-camp to the Governor of this place, an officer under the Marquis d'Aumenier. You have your ideas of duty, I have mine. I have already stretched my conscience to the limit in offering to be silent about this under any conditions. I am doing wrong in concealing it but I do not wish to doom so many brave men to disgrace, to death. You, monsieur”--he pointed toward Marteau--”refused a commission in this regiment. You wear the insignia of Bonaparte. You have no place here.
Withdraw. Your arrival has disturbed the orderly course of events.
These gentlemen were doing their duty contentedly----”
”No, by G.o.d, never,” roared out a veteran. ”Contentedly! We will never be content until----”
”Until what, monsieur?”
”Until the violets bloom again,” came the answer, accompanied by a burst of sardonic laughter.
”Your interest in the flowers of spring does not concern me, gentlemen,” returned the young aide, affecting not to understand, and perhaps he did not. ”If you will give me the Eagle----”
”And what will you do with it if we should do so?”