He was
glad of that, for his own heart was calmed and softened by the solemn
prospect before him.
"We, too, have a little account to settle before I order out the men,"
said he, calmly, "and I can't give you a long credit. I am pressed for
time."
"Our quarrel is at an end. When duty sounds the recall, a soldier's
heart leaves private feuds. See! I come to you without anger and
ill-will. Just now my voice was loud, my manner, I dare say, offensive,
and menacing even, and that always tempts a brave fellow like you to
resist. But now, you see, I am harmless as a woman. We are alone. Humbug
to the winds! I know that you are the only man in this army fit to
command a division. I know that when you say the assault of that bastion
is death, death it is. To the point then; now that my manner is no
longer irritating, now that I am going to die, Camille Dujardin, my old
comrade, have you the heart to refuse me? am I to die unhappy?"
"No; no: I will do whatever you like."
"You will marry that poor girl, then?"
"Yes."
"Aha! did not I always say he was a good fellow? Clench the nail; give
me your honor.
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