".
"My poor colonel!"
"Let me wear it intact, and carry it to my grave."
"Say no more! One word--Is there anything on earth I can do for you, my
brave soldier?"
"Yes, general. Be so kind as to retire to your quarters; there are
reasons why you ought not to be near this post in half an hour."
"I go. Is there NOTHING else?"
"Well, general, ask the good priest Ambrose, to pray for all those who
shall die doing their duty to their country this afternoon."
They parted. General Raimbaut looked back more than once at the firm,
intrepid figure that stood there unflinching, on the edge of the grave.
But HE never took his eye off Raynal. The next minute the sad letter was
finished, and Raynal walked out of the tent, and confronted the man he
had challenged to single combat.
I have mentioned elsewhere that Colonel Dujardin had eyes strangely
compounded of battle and love, of the dove and the hawk. And these,
softened by a noble act he meditated, now rested on Raynal with a
strange expression of warmth and goodness. This strange gaze struck
Raynal, so far at least as this; he saw it was no hostile eye.
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