mond had given him the day before.

"Well, General?" said Valmond.

"Sire," said the old man, "they mock us in the streets. Come to the
window, sire."

The "sire," fell on the ears of Madame Chalice like a mot in a play; but
Valmond, living up to his part, was grave and solicitous. He walked to
the window, and the old man said:

"Sire, do you not hear a drum?"

A faint rat-tat came up the road. Valmond bowed. "Sire," the old man
continued, "I would not act till I had your orders."

"Whence comes the mockery?" Valmond asked quietly.

The other shook his head. "Sire, I do not know. But I remember of such
a thing happening to the Emperor. It was in the garden of the Tuileries,
and twenty-four battalions of the Old Guard filed past our great chief.
Some fool sent out a gamin dressed in regimentals in front of one of the
bands, and then--"

"Enough, General," said Valmond; "I understand. I will go down into
the village--eh, monsieur?" he added, turning to Parpon with impressive
consideration.

"Sire, there is one behind these mockers," answered the little man in a
low voice.

Valmond turned towards Madame Chalice. "I know my enemy, madame," he
said.

"Your enemy is not here," she rejoined kindly.

He stooped over her hand, and bowed Lagroin and Parpon to the door.

"Madame," he said, "I thank you. Will you accept a souvenir of him whom
we both love, martyr and friend of France?"

He drew from his breast a small painting of Napoleon, on ivory, and
handed it to her.

"It was the work of David," he continued. "You will find it well
authenticated. Look upon the back of it."

She looked, and her heart beat a little faster. "This was done when he
was alive?" she said.

"For the King of Rome," he answered. "Adieu, madame. Again I thank you,
for our cause as for myself."

He turned away. She let him get as far as the door. "Wait, wait!" she
said suddenly, a warm light in her face, for her imagination had been
touched. "Tell me, tell me the truth. Who are you? Are you really a
Napoleon? I can be a constant ally, but, I charge you, speak the truth
to me. Are you--" She stopped abruptly. "No, no; do not tell me," she
added quickly. "If you are not, you will be your own executioner. I will
ask for no further proof than did Sergeant Lagroin. It is in a small
way yet, but you are playing a terrible game. Do you realise what may
happen?"

"In the hour that you ask a last proof I will give it," he said almost
fier