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Updated: June 28, 2025
Parpon knew it to be the reflection of the campfires in the valley, where Lagroin and his men were sleeping. There came, too, out of the general stillness, a long, low murmur, as though nature were crooning: the untiring rustle of the river, the water that rolled on and never came back again. Where did they all go those thousands of rivers for ever pouring on, lazily or wildly? What motive?
But Elise Malboir had a keener interest that night, for Valmond and Parpon brought her uncle "General Lagroin," in honour to her mother's cottage; and she sat and listened dreamily, as Valmond and the old man talked of great things to be done.
Here the avocat stopped him with a quick, protesting gesture. "Your Excellency! your Excellency!" he said in a shaking voice, "my heart has been with the man as with the cause." Other legacies were given to Medallion, to the family of Lagroin, of whom he still spoke as "my beloved General who died for me;" and ten francs to each recruit who had come to his standard.
"I advance Colonel Lagroin to the rank of General in my Household Troops, and I command you to obey him as such." Then he beckoned, and the old man drew near. Stooping, he pinned the order upon his breast. When the sergeant saw what it was, he turned pale, trembled, and the drumsticks fell from his hand. His eyes shone like sun on wet glass, then tears sprang from them upon his face.
At that moment De la Riviere appeared on the balcony, and, stepping forward, said: "My friends, do you know what you are doing? This is folly. This man " He got no further, for Valmond raised his hand to Lagroin, and the drums began to beat.
When the gossip came to Lagroin, as he sat in his doorway, babbling of Grouchy and Lannes and Davoust, the Little Corporal outflanking them all in his praise, his dim blue eyes flared out from the distant sky of youth and memory, his lips pursed in anger, and he got to his feet, his stick fiercely pounding the ground. "Tut! tut!" said he. "A lie! a pretty lie!
No one answered; and because Lagroin was not a wise man, he failed to see that in time his army might be entirely dissipated by such awkward incidents. When Valmond was told, he listened with a better understanding. All that Lajeunesse had announced came to pass.
"Drummer, call the army to attention," fell the words. And again like a small whirlwind of hailstones the sticks shook on the drum. "I advance Captain Lagroin to the rank of Colonel in my Household Troops, and I command you to obey him as such." And once more: "Drummer, call the army to attention." The sticks swung down, but somehow they faltered, for the drummer was shaking now.
Tell them that I will come to them at nine o'clock tonight, and we will swear fidelity." "And a damned good speech too bagosh!" cried the mealman, his fingers hungering for the gold pieces. "We're to be captains pretty soon eh?" asked Muroc. "As quick as I've taught you to handle a company," answered Lagroin, with importance. "I was a patriot in '37," said Muroc.
At last Lagroin came, and whisperingly asked after his chief; then, seeing him in a healthy and peaceful sleep, he stooped and kissed the hand lying upon the blanket. "Beloved sire! Thank the good God!" he said.
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