"
"Gentlemen," said Dujardin, with an imperceptible sneer, "the general
means to say this: the operation is so glorious that he could hardly
without partiality assign the command to either of us four claimants.
Well, then, let us cast lots."
The proposal was received by acclamation.
"The general will mark a black cross on one lot, and he who draws it
wins the command."
The young colonels prepared their lots with almost boyish eagerness.
These fiery spirits were sick to death of lying and skulking in the
trenches. They flung their lots into the hat. After them, who
should approach the hat, lot in hand, but Raynal. Dujardin instantly
interfered, and held his arm as he was in the act of dropping in his
lot.
"What is the matter?" said Raynal, sharply.
"This is our affair, Colonel Raynal. You have no command in this army."
"I beg your pardon, sir, I have yours."
"Not till to-morrow."
"Why, you would not take such a pettifogging advantage of an old comrade
as that."
"Tell him the day ends at twelve o'clock," said one of the colonels
interested by this strange strife.
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