But he understood from my tone that I meant what I said, and that
I was not a man to be bullied into submission. He pulled a cross
from under his zammara or jacket of black sheepskin.
"I swear it," said he.
Oh, my joy as I heard the words! What an end-- what an end for
the first swordsman of France! I could have laughed with delight
at the thought.
"Now, your questions!" said I.
"You swear in turn to answer them truly?"
"I do, upon the honour of a gentleman and a soldier."
It was, as you perceive, a terrible thing that I promised, but
what was it compared to what I might gain by compliance?
"This is a very fair and a very interesting bargain," said he,
taking a note-book from his pocket.
"Would you kindly turn your gaze toward the French camp?"
Following the direction of his gesture, I turned and looked down
upon the camp in the plain beneath us. In spite of the fifteen
miles, one could in that clear atmosphere see every detail with
the utmost distinctness.
There were the long squares of our tents and our huts, with the
cavalry lines and the dark patches which marked the ten batteries
of artillery.
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