Just as I had finished my recital, we arrived at the corner of a street,
and my companion stopped.

"This," said he, "is the street in which Monsieur le Maire resides. But
before we go further, may I ask, comrade, what you are going to do with
those fish in your basket?" casting at the same time a hungry glance
over my shoulder.

"Well," said I, "they really belong to poor Jean Leferrier and his mate;
and I intended asking Monsieur le Maire to accept one or two of the
finest of them, after which I should sell the remainder, and hand over
the proceeds to Jean's mother, who I find depended entirely upon her son
for house, food, and clothing. But I suppose one or two more or less
will not make much difference to the good dame, especially,"--a bright
idea striking me--"as I intend going out to-night and trying my luck; so
if you would like a bit of fish for dinner and will accept one or two,
make your choice, comrade; you have been very kind in guiding me thus
far, and I am sure you are heartily welcome."

I was about to unsling the basket from my shoulders, as I spoke, but he
hastily stopped me.

"You are a good fellow, _mon ami_," said he, "and I accept your offer.
But not here--it would never do for me to be seen here in public
accepting such a present; it would be sure to get to our general's ears,
and I should be simply flogged for my presumption. Why, if you had not
told me yourself that you are a stranger, I should have known it at
once, from your ignorance of the value of the contents of your basket.
Why, we are closely besieged, _mon cher_; provisions are growing scarce,
and your fish are worth--well--almost their weight in silver. _Come_
this way; never mind Monsieur le Maire, he would only send you on to the
general's quarters to report yourself there; so you may as well save
your intended present to him--or, better still, hand it to the general's
cook, and that will insure you from all further trouble in the future,
especially if you happen to make a point of leaving a little bit of fish
at the general's whenever you happen to be passing that way. Ah! here
we are at the barracks!"

We turned in, as he spoke, through a pair of large, high folding gates
of wood, thickly studded along the top with sharp iron spikes, and I
found myself in the barrack square, a large open space, surrounded on
three sides by buildings, and on the fourth--that side which abutted on
the street--by a wall about twenty feet