, stepping forward.

"Traitor!" exclaimed St. Laurent, confronting him boldly.

"Not so, for I have taken no oath to King Louis."

"Ah, you still wear the insignia of the Corsican, I see," continued the
young aide, looking more closely. "But how about these gentlemen?"

Again the question was met by silence.

"Messieurs," said St. Laurent, "you are old soldiers of the former
Emperor. I see. I understand. You love him as I and mine the King.
It is as much as my life is worth, as much as my honor, to condone it.
Yet I would not be a tale-bearer, but this cannot pass unless----"

"Shall I cut him down where he stands, _Mon Commandant_?" growled the
old port-aigle, presenting his weapon.

"And add murder to treason!" exclaimed St. Laurent, his face flushing a
little but not giving back an inch before the threatening approach of
the veteran.

There was good stuff in him, evidently, and even those who foresaw
terrible consequences to themselves in his unexpected presence could
not but admire him. They were even proud that he was a Frenchman, even
though he served the King they hated.

"By no means," said Lestoype, motioning the color-bearer back. "You
shall go as freely as you came."

"And if you do as I suggest I shall go and forget all I have seen,
messieurs."

"Impossible!"

"Upon my honor I shall do it but on one condition."

"Ah! and that is?"

"That you give me the Eagle."

"Give you the Eagle!" exclaimed old Captain Grenier.

"The Eagle for which our brave comrades died," said Drehon.

"The Eagle which has been carried in triumph in every capital in
Europe!" added Suraif.

The whole room was filled with cries again.

"Never! Never!"

The whole mass surged forward, including Marteau.

"Was it to give it up to any servant of King Louis that I brought it
back?" the latter shouted threateningly.

"Gentlemen," said the young aide so soon as he could make himself heard
in the tumult, "the choice is yours, not mine. I am a soldier of the
King, aide-de-camp to the Governor of this place, an officer under the
Marquis d'Aumenier. You have your ideas of duty, I have mine. I have
already stretched my conscience to the limit in offering to be silent
about this under any conditions. I am doing wrong in concealing it but
I do not wish to doom so many brave men to disgrace, to death. You,
monsieur"--he pointed toward Marteau--"refused a commission in this
regiment. You wear the insignia of Bon