Part 43 (2/2)
Bourrienne wrote the address, sealed it, and rang the bell. An officer on duty entered.
”Send an orderly with that,” said Bourrienne.
”There is an answer,” added Bonaparte.
The officer closed the door.
”Bourrienne,” said Bonaparte, pointing to Roland, ”look at your friend.”
”Well, general, I am looking at him.”
”Do you know what he did at Avignon?”
”I hope he didn't make a pope.”
”No, he threw a plate at a man's head.”
”Oh, that was hasty!”
”That's not all.”
”That I can well imagine.”
”He fought a duel with that man.”
”And, most naturally, he killed him.”
”Exactly. Do you know why he did it?”
”No.”
The general shrugged his shoulders, and said: ”Because the man said that I was a thief.” Then looking at Roland with an indefinable expression of raillery and affection, he added: ”Ninny!” Then suddenly he burst out: ”Oh! by the way, and the Englishman?”
”Exactly, the Englishman, general. I was just going to speak to you about him.”
”Is he still in France?”
”Yes, and for awhile even I thought he would remain here till the last trumpet blew its blast through the valley of Jehosaphat.”
”Did you miss killing him?”
”Oh! no, not I. We are the best friends in the world. General, he is a capital fellow, and so original to boot that I'm going to ask a bit of a favor for him.”
”The devil! For an Englishman?” said Bonaparte, shaking his head. ”I don't like the English.”
”Good! As a people, but individually--”
”Well, what happened to your friend?”
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