not like it. His heart softened only when he thought of the village where he hoped to pass his old age. "To fulfil one's task and then to rest," he often said, "is the whole destiny of man!"[2]
[2] We borrow this portrait from Nodier's study of Pichegru.
Charles made a slight movement which betrayed his presence to Pichegru. The latter possessed the quick sight and keen hearing of the man whose life often depends upon that hearing or sight. He raised his head swiftly and fastened his eyes upon the child with an expression of kindness that emboldened him greatly.
He entered and handed his letter to the general with a bow. "For the citizen-general Pichegru," he said.
"Did you recognize me?" asked the general.
"Immediately, general."
"But you had never seen me."
"My father has described you to me."
During this conversation Pichegru had opened the letter.
"What!" he said, "so you are the son of my brave and dear friend—"
The boy did not allow him to finish.
"Yes, citizen-general," he said.
"He says that he gives you to me."
"It remains to be seen whether you will accept the gift."
"What do you want me to do with you?"
"Anything you please."
"I cannot in conscience make a soldier of you; you are too young and weak."
"General, I did not expect to have the pleasure of seeing you so soon. My father gave me another letter to a friend in Strasbourg, where I was to have stayed at least a year to study Greek under him."
"It was not Euloge Schneider?" asked Pichegru, with a laugh.
"Yes, it was."
"Well?"
"Well, he was arrested yesterday."
"By whose order?"
"By that of Saint-Just; he has been sent to the revolutionary tribunal at Paris."
"In that case, you may as well say farewell to him. How did it happen?"
Charles related Mademoiselle de Brumpt's story, to which Pichegru listened with evident interest.
"In truth," he said, "some creatures dishonor humanity. Saint-Just did well. And you did not get spattered with the mud in the midst of all that?"
"Oh!" said Charles, proud of being the hero of an adventure at his age, "I was in prison when it happened."
"What, in prison?"
"Yes; I was arrested the day before."
"Then they have begun to arrest children?"
"That is just what made Saint-Just so angry."
"But why were you arrested?"
"For warning two deputies from Besançon that it was not safe for them to remain in Strasbourg."
"Dumont and Ballu?"
"Yes."
"They are on my staff; you will see them."
"I thought they had returned to Besançon?"
"They changed their minds on the way. And so it is to you they owe the warning that probably saved their lives?"
"It seems I did wrong," said the boy, lowering his eyes.
"Wrong! Who told you that you had done wrong in accomplishing a good deed and saving the lives of your fellow-creatures?"
"Saint-Just; but he added that he pardoned me, since pity was a childish virtue. Then he quoted his own example to me; that very morning he had sent his best friend to be shot."
Pichegru's face darkened.
"That is true," he said; "the occurrence was put upon the order of the day, and I must acknowledge that, however one may judge of it individually, it had a good influence upon the discipline of the soldiers. But God preserve me from having to give such an example, for I do not hesitate to say that I should not do it. The devil! we are Frenchmen, and not Spartans. They can put a mask over our faces for a time, but sooner or later that mask will lift and the face beneath will be the same; it may have a few more wrinkles, but that is all."
"Well, general, to return to my father's letter—"
"It is settled that you stay with us. I attach you as secretary to my staff. Can you ride?"
"I must confess, general, that I am not a very good horseman."
"You will learn. You came on foot?"
"From Rohwillers, yes."
"And how did you get from Strasbourg to Rohwillers?"
"I came in a carry-all with Madame Teutch."
"The landlady of the Hôtel de la Lanterne?"
"And sergeant-major Augereau."
"And how the devil did you get acquainted with that brute, Pierre Augereau?"
"He was Eugene Beauharnais' fencing-master."
"Son of General Beauharnais?"
"Yes."
"Another one who will expiate his victories upon the scaffold," said Pichegru, with a sigh; "they find that grape-shot does not work fast enough. But then, my poor child, you must be half starved."
"Oh, no," replied Charles; "I have just seen a sight that has taken away my appetite."
"What have you seen?"
"I saw a poor noble shot, who comes from our country. He emigrated, and I think you must know him."
"The Comte de Sainte-Hermine?"
"Yes."
"They guillotined the father eight months ago, and to-day they have shot the son. There are still two brothers." Pichegru shrugged his shoulders, and continued, "Why not shoot them all at once? Then they would be rid of the whole family. Have you ever seen any one guillotined?"
"No."
"Well, to-morrow, if it will amuse you, you can have the pleasure; there are twenty-two to be disposed of. There will be all kinds, from officers to grooms. And now let us arrange about your quarters. It will not
