Part 39 (2/2)
”Give me your arm, lad,” said he, ”for this stair seems to grow steeper every day. Thanks; now I shall get on better. What has torn your coat-sleeve?”
I told him in a few words what had just occurred in the streets, and he listened to me with a degree of interest that somewhat surprised me.
”Come along, my lad. Let General Danitan hear this from your own lips;”
and with an agility that I could not have believed him capable of, he hurried up the stairs, and, crossing a kind of gallery crowded with officers of different grades, he entered a chamber where two persons in military undress were writing.
”Can I see the general, Francois?” said he, abruptly.
The officer thus addressed, coolly replied that he believed not, and went on with his writing as before.
”But I have something important to say to him,--my business is of consequence,” said he.
”As it always is,” muttered the other, in a tone of sarcasm that fortunately was only overheard by myself.
”You will announce me, then, Francois?” continued he.
”My orders are not to admit any one, Captain.”
”They were never meant to include me, sir,--of that I 'm positive,” said the old man; ”and if you will not announce me, I will enter without it;”
and, half dragging me by the arm, he moved forward, opened the door, and pa.s.sed into an inner room.
General Danitan, a small, dark-eyed, severe-looking man, was standing with his back to the fire, and in the act of dictating to a secretary, as we entered. An expression of angry impatience at our unauthorized appearance was the only return he vouchsafed to our salute; and he continued his dictation, as before.
”Don't interrupt me, sir,” said he, hastily, as the old captain made an effort to address him. ”Don't interrupt me, sir.--'Which difficulties,'”
continued he, as he took up the thread of his dictation,--”'which difficulties are considerably increased by the obtrusive habit of tendering advice by persons in whose judgment I place no reliance, and whose conduct, when they leave me, is open to the suspicion of being prejudicial to the public service. Amongst such offenders the chief is a retired captain of the 8th regiment of Cha.s.seurs, called Hugues Le Bart--'”
”Why, General, it is of me--me myself--you are speaking!” broke in the captain.
”'An officer,'” continued the other, perfectly heedless of the interruption, ”'into whose past services I would strenuously recommend some inquiry; since neither from the information which has reached me with regard to his habits, nor from the characters of his intimates, am I disposed to regard him as well affected to the Government, or in other respects trustworthy.' How do you do, Captain? Who is our young friend here?” continued he, with a smile and a bow towards us.
”In what way am I to understand this, General? Is it meant for a piece of coa.r.s.e pleasantry--”
”For nothing of the kind, sir,” interrupted the other, sternly. ”That you have been a witness to the words of a confidential communication is entirely attributable to yourself; and I have only to hope you will respect the confidence of which an accident has made you a partic.i.p.ator.
Meanwhile, I desire to be alone.”
The manner in which these words were uttered was too decisive for hesitation, and the old man bowed submissively and withdrew. As I was about to follow him, the general called out,--
”Stay: a word with you. Are you the captain's protege, boy?”
I told him that our first meeting only dated a few moments back, and how it had occurred.
”Then you are not of the 'Troupe'? You have never worn the uniform till this morning?” said he, somewhat severely.
I bowed a.s.sent.
He turned hastily about at the moment, and said something to his secretary in a low voice, of which I just could catch the concluding words, which were far from flattering to the corps in whose livery I was dressed.
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