Part 25 (1/2)

The sergeant said that we must put a policeman at our door to prevent quarrels, for some of them said that they lost their turn, and that their money was as good as anybody's.

It will be a good many years before such a crowd will be seen again in front of a Phalsburg shop.

I had only time to tell my wife that Burguet would defend the deserter, and then went down into the cellar to fill the two tuns at the counter, which were already empty.

A fortnight after, Sorle doubled the price; our first two pipes were sold, and this extra price did not lessen the demand.

Men always find money for brandy and tobacco, even when they have none left for bread. This is why governments impose their heaviest taxes upon these two articles; they might be heavier still without diminis.h.i.+ng their use--only, children would starve to death.

I have seen this--I have seen this great folly in men, and I am astonished whenever I think of it.

That day we kept on selling until seven o'clock in the evening, when the tattoo was sounded.

My pleasure in making money had made me forget the deserter; I did not think of him again till after supper, when night set in; but I did not say a word about him; we were all so tired and so delighted with the day's profits that we did not want to be troubled with thinking of such things. But after Zeffen and the children had retired, I told Sorle of our visit to the prisoner. I told her, too, that Burguet had hopes, which made her very happy.

About nine o'clock, by G.o.d's blessing, we were all asleep.

XV

TRIAL OF THE DESERTER

You can believe, Fritz, that I did not sleep much that night, notwithstanding my fatigue. The thought of the deserter tormented me.

I knew that if he should be shot, Zeffen and Sorle would be inconsolable; and I knew, too, that after three or four years the vile race would say: ”Look at this Moses, with his large brown cloak, his cape turned down over the back of his neck, and his respectable look--well, during the blockade he caused the arrest of a poor deserter, who was shot: so much you can trust a Jew's appearance!”

They would have said this, undoubtedly; for the only consolation of villains is to make people think that everybody is like themselves.

And then how often should I reproach myself for this man's death, in times of misfortune or in my old age, when I should not have a minute's peace! How often should I have said that it was a judgment of the Lord, that it was on account of this deserter.

So I wanted to do immediately all that I could, and by six o'clock in the morning I was in my old shop in the market with my lantern, selecting epaulettes and my best clothes. I put them in a napkin and took them to Harmantier at daybreak.

The special council of war, which was called--I do not know why--the _Ventose_ council, was to meet at nine o'clock. It was composed of a major, president, four captains, and two lieutenants. Monbrun, the captain of the foreign legion, was judge-advocate, and Brigadier Duphot recorder.

It was astonis.h.i.+ng how the whole city knew about it beforehand, and that by seven o'clock the Nicaises, and Pigots, and Vinatiers, etc., had left their rickety quarters, and had already filled the whole mayoralty, the arch, the stairway, and the large room above, laughing, whistling, stamping, as if it were a bear-fight at Klein's inn, the ”Ox.”

You do not see things like that nowadays, thank G.o.d! men have become more gentle and humane. But after all these wars, a deserter met with less pity than a fox caught in a trap, or a wolf led by the muzzle.

As I saw all this, my courage failed; all my admiration for Burguet's talents could not keep me from thinking:

The man is lost! Who can save him, when this crowd has come on purpose to see him condemned to death, and led to the Glaciere bastion?

I was overwhelmed by the thought.

I went trembling into Harmantier's little room, and said to him: ”This is for the deserter; take it to him from me.” ”All right!” said he.

I asked him if he had confidence in Burguet. He shrugged his shoulders, and said: ”We must have examples.”

The stamping outside continued, and when I went out there was a great whistling in the balcony, the arch, and everywhere, and shouts of ”Moses! hey, Moses! this way!”

But I did not turn my head, and went home very sad.