Part 80 (2/2)
He raised his eyes, and perceived his two jailers by his side.
They had got up behind him into the carriage.
”Ah, indeed!” he said to them; ”you there!”
Of these two men there was only one who spoke, that one answered,--
”Yes, Colonel.”
”What are you doing here?”
”We are keeping watch over you.”
”But we are in Belgium.”
”Possibly.”
”Belgium is not France.”
”Ah, that may be.”
”But suppose I put my head out of the carriage? Suppose I call out?
Suppose I had you arrested? Suppose I reclaimed my liberty?”
”You will not do all that, Colonel.”
”How will you prevent me?”
The police agent showed the b.u.t.t-end of his pistol and said ”Thus.”
Charras burst out laughing, and asked them, ”Where then are you going to leave me?”
”At Brussels.”
”That is to say, that at Brussels you will salute me with your cap; but that at Mons you will salute me with your pistol.”
”As you say, Colonel.”
”In truth,” said Charras, ”it does not matter to me. It is King Leopold's business. The Bonaparte treats countries as he has treated the Representatives. He has violated the a.s.sembly, he violates Belgium. But all the same, you are a medley of strange rascals. He who is at the top is a madman, those who are beneath are blockheads. Very well, my friends, let me go to sleep.”
And he went to sleep.
Almost the same incident happened nearly at the same moment to Generals Changarnier and Lamoriciere and to M. Baze.
The police agents did not leave General Changarnier until they had reached Mons. There they made him get down from the train, and said to him, ”General, this is your place of residence. We leave you free.”
”Ah!” said he, ”this is my place of residence, and I am free? Well, then, good-night.”
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