What shall I do?"
"Colonel," said a low voice, and at the same time a hand was laid on his
shoulder.
It was General Raimbaut. The general looked pale and distressed.
"Come apart, colonel, for Heaven's sake! One word, while he is writing.
Ah! that was an unlucky idea of yours."
"Of mine, general?"
"'Twas you proposed to cast lots."
"Good God! so it was."
"I thought of course it was to be managed so that Raynal should not be
the one. Between ourselves, what honorable excuse can we make?"
"None, general."
"The whole division will be disgraced, and forgive me if I say a portion
of the discredit will fall on you."
"Help me to avert that shame then," cried Camille, eagerly.
"Ah! that I will: but how?"
"Take your pencil and write--'I authorize Colonel Dujardin to save the
honor of the colonels of the second division.'"
The general hesitated. He had never seen an order so worded. But at
last he took out his pencil and wrote the required order, after his own
fashion; i.e., in milk and water:--
On account of the singular ability and courage with which Colonel
Dujardin has conducted the operations against the Bastion St.
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