The Son Of Monte Cristo Part 8 (1/2)
”And you are right I beg your pardon for keeping you waiting I was just telling the children about a battle of the Republic at Valmy”
”Takeof yours is not very safe on the ice”
”Am I not here?” asked Jacques, in a vexed voice, ”can I not look out for hed
”But why,” he asked, ”have you not asked for wine at the inn?”
”Because we heard that the little girl was ill, sir--”
”Oh! it is nothing of any consequence--there she is, as rosy and s as ever”
When Simon's voice was heard, the inn awoke fro in her arms a pretty little creature about six years old
Thea peasant's dress She began to fill glasses for these woodcutters, who addressed her with a cordial good
At this moment the door was hastily opened, and a man appeared on the threshold The woodcutters uttered a cry of surprise The ainst the wall and did not speak
Simon hurried forward ”You are welcome, comrade,” he exclaimed
The man turned pale, and but for Simon's support, he would have fallen on the floor
”Francoise, a chair!” cried the innkeeper
The soldier had his head wrapped in a blue handkerchief, and drops of blood were upon his cheek His unifor
The men looked on with terrified respect while Sined to Jacques to take off the soldier's shoes, now covered with snow
The soldier uttered a deep sigh of relief He was a peasant of about forty, although hisand privations
”Solass to hi the while at the child with ad her on his knee, he looked around him at the honest faces, and said:
”My name is Michel--Michel Charmoze There are thirty of us down on the road, all wounded, in a big wagon The horses have fallen, one is dead, and we have come for help”
The woodcutters looked from one to the other in amaze in this land of snow? I have been fighting three months on the Rhine The Emperor has deserted us All is over!”
The peasants listened in a stupefied sort of way Only the vaguest rumors had as yet reached the peasants that Napoleon's star had begun to pale Simon knew it, but he had held his peace
”Where are the wounded?” he asked, quietly
”A quarter of a league down the road”
”My friends,” said Si
You must save these Frenchmen!”