Part 30 (1/2)

This shows us plainly that the Lord favors orderly and peaceable men, provided they know how to make the best use of their opportunities.

At length, as we could not do more, we were obliged to close the shop, in spite of the protestations of the soldiers, and defer business till to-morrow.

About nine o'clock, after supper, we all sat down together around the large lamp, to count our gains. I made rolls of three francs each, and on the chair next me the pile reached almost to the top of the table.

Little Safel put the white pieces in a wooden bowl. It was a pleasant sight to us all, and Sorle said: ”We have sold twice as much as usual.

The more we raise the price the better it sells.”

I was going to reply that still we must use moderation in all things--for these women, even the best of them, do not know that--when the sergeant came in to take his little gla.s.s. He wore his foraging coat, and carried hung across his cape a kind of bag of red leather.

”He, he, he!” said he, as he saw the rolls. ”The devil! the devil!

You ought to be satisfied with this day's work, Father Moses?”

”Yes, not bad, sergeant,” I joyfully replied.

”I think,” said he, as he sat down and tasted the little gla.s.s of cherry-brandy, which Zeffen had just poured out for him, ”I think that after one or two sorties more, you will do for colonel of the shopkeepers' regiment. So much the better; I am very glad of it!”

Then, laughing heartily, he said,

”He, Father Moses! see what I have here; these rascals of kaiserlichs deny themselves nothing.”

At the same time he opened his bag, and began to draw out a pair of mittens lined with fox-skin, then some good woollen stockings, and a large knife with a horn handle and blades of very fine steel. He opened the blades:

”There is everything here,” said he, ”a pruning-knife, a saw, small knives and large ones, even to a file for nails.”

”For finger-nails, sergeant!” said I.

”Ah! very likely!” said he. ”This big landwehr was as nice as a new crown-piece. He would be likely to file his finger-nails. But wait!”

My wife and children, leaning over us, looked on with eager eyes.

Thrusting his hand into a sort of portfolio in the side of the bag, he drew out a handsome miniature, surrounded with a circle of gold in the shape of a watch, but larger.

”See! What ought this to be worth?”

I looked, then Sorle, then Zeffen, and Safel. We were all surprised at seeing a work of such beauty, and even touched, for the miniature represented a fair young woman and two lovely children, as fresh as rose-buds.

”Well, what do you think of that?” asked the sergeant.

”It is very beautiful,” said Sorle.

”Yes, but what is it worth?”

I took the miniature and examined it.

”To any one else, sergeant,” said I, ”I should say that it was worth fifty francs; but the gold alone is worth more, and I should estimate it at a hundred francs; we can weigh it.”

”And the portrait, Father Moses?”

”The portrait is worth nothing to me, and I will give it back to you.