aparte. You have no place here.
Withdraw. Your arrival has disturbed the orderly course of events.
These gentlemen were doing their duty contentedly----"

"No, by God, never," roared out a veteran. "Contentedly! We will
never be content until----"

"Until what, monsieur?"

"Until the violets bloom again," came the answer, accompanied by a
burst of sardonic laughter.

"Your interest in the flowers of spring does not concern me,
gentlemen," returned the young aide, affecting not to understand, and
perhaps he did not. "If you will give me the Eagle----"

"And what will you do with it if we should do so?"

"I will be silent as to this."

"And how will you explain your possession of it?"

"I will say that I got it from Monsieur Marteau, who has gone."

"And what will you do with it?"

"That shall be as the Marquis d'Aumenier directs."

"And he?"

"I think he will undoubtedly obey the orders of the Minister of War and
send it to Paris to be broken up."

"Gentlemen," said Major Lestoype, endeavoring to quiet and repress the
growls of antagonism that arose on every hand, "you hear the
proposition of Monsieur St. Laurent. Seeing his duty as he does, I am
forced to admit," continued the veteran with great magnanimity, "that
it does credit to his heart. What shall we do?"

"Purchase our freedom, purchase our rank, purchase our lives by giving
up our Eagle!" said old Captain Grenier. "Never!"

"I vote NO to that proposition," said Drehon.

"And I, and I, and I," acclaimed the soldiers.

"You hear, Monsieur St. Laurent?" said the Major. "These gentlemen
have signified their will unmistakably."

"I hear," said the young aide. "Major Lestoype, forgive me if I have
failed in respect or soldierly deference to my superior officer, but I,
too, have my duty to perform. I warn you all that when I pass from
this room I shall go directly to the Marquis d'Aumenier and report what
I have seen."

"When he passes," cried some of the soldiers of lower rank ominously,
emphasizing the adverb and rudely thrusting themselves between St.
Laurent and the door.

"Pardon me, gentlemen," said the young aide quite coolly. "It seems
that I spoke unadvisedly in one particular."

"You retract?" said a voice.

"Never. I should have said 'if I pass.'"

Swords were still out, hands were clenched, arms were raised.

"Say the word and he dies where he stands," cried one.

"Gentlemen," said Lestoype sternly, "back, all o