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h he is paid ten sous the fathom。 He is accustomed to working in a marshy soil； and so； as he says； he gets jobs which no one else cares to take。 He can make about three francs a day by clearing out ponds； or draining meadows that lie under water。 His deafness makes him seem surly； and he is not naturally inclined to say very much； but there is a good deal in him。
〃We are very good friends。 He dines with me on the day of Austerlitz； on the Emperor's birthday； and on the anniversary of the disaster at Waterloo； and during the dessert he always receives a napoleon to pay for his wine very quarter。 Every one in the Commune shares in my feeling of respect for him； if he would allow them to support him； nothing would please them better。 At every house to which he goes the people follow my example； and show their esteem by asking him to dine with them。 It is a feeling of pride that leads him to work； and it is only as a portrait of the Emperor that he can be induced to take my twenty…franc piece。 He has been deeply wounded by the injustice that has been done to him； but I think regret for the Cross is greater than the desire for his pension。
〃He has one great consolation。 After the bridges had been constructed across the Beresina； General Eble presented such of the pontooners as were not disabled to the Emperor； and Napoleon embraced poor Gondrin perhaps but for that accolade he would have died ere now。 This memory and the hope that some day Napoleon will return are all that Gondrin lives by。 Nothing will ever persuade him that Napoleon is dead； and so convinced is he that the Emperor's captivity is wholly and solely due to the English； that I believe he would be ready on the slightest pretext to take the life of the best…natured alderman that ever traveled for pleasure in foreign parts。〃
〃Let us go on as fast as possible！〃 cried Genestas。 He had listened to the doctor's story with rapt attention； and now seemed to recover consciousness of his surroundings。 〃Let us hurry！ I long to see that man！〃
Both of them put their horses to a gallop。
〃The other soldier that I spoke of；〃 Benassis went on； 〃is another of those men of iron who have knocked about everywhere with our armies。 His life； like that of all French soldiers； has been made up of bullets； sabre strokes； and victories； he has had a very rough time of it； and has only worn the woolen epaulettes。 He has a fanatical affection for Napoleon； who conferred the Cross upon him on the field of Valontina。 He is of a jovial turn of mind； and like a genuine Dauphinois； has always looked after his own interests； has his pension； and the honors of the Legion。 Goguelat is his name。 He was an infantry man； who exchanged into the Guard in 1812。 He is Gondrin's better half； so to speak； for the two have taken up house together。 They both lodge with a peddler's widow； and make over their money to her。 She is a kind soul； who boards them and looks after them； and their clothes as if they were her children。
〃In his quality of local postman； Goguelat carries all the news of the countryside； and a good deal of practice acquired in this way has made him an orator in great request at up…sittings； and the champion teller of stories in the district。 Gondrin looks upon him as a very knowing fellow； and something of a wit； and whenever Goguelat talks about Napoleon； his comrade seems to understand what he is saying from the movement of his lips。 There will be an up…sitting （as they call it） in one of my barns to…night。 If these two come over to it； and we can manage to see without being seen； I shall treat you to a view of the spectacle。 But here we are； close to the ditch； and I do not see my friend the pontooner。〃
The doctor and the commandant looked everywhere about them； Gondrin's soldier's coat lay there beside a heap of black mud； and his wheelbarrow； spade； and pickaxe were visible； but there was no sign of the man himself along the various pebbly watercourses； for the wayward mountain streams had hollowed out channels that were almost overgrown with low bushes。
〃He cannot be so very far away。 Gondrin！ Where are you？〃 shouted Benassis。
Genestas first saw the curling smoke from a tobacco pipe rise among the brushwood on a bank of rubbish not far away。 He pointed it out to the doctor； who shouted again。 The old pontooner raised his head at this； recognized the mayor； and came towards them down a little pathway。
〃Well； old friend；〃 said Benassis； making a sort of speaking…trumpet with his hand。 〃Here is a comrade of yours； who was out in Egypt； come to see you。〃
Gondrin raised is face at once and gave Genestas a swift； keen； and searching look； one of those glances by which old soldiers are wont at once to take the measure of any impending danger。 He saw the red ribbon that the commandant wore； and made a silent and respectful military salute。
〃If the Little Corporal were alive；〃 the officer cried； 〃you would have the Cross of the Legion of Honor and a handsome pension besides； for every man who wore epaulettes on the other side of the river owed his life to you on the 1st of October 1812。 But I am not the Minister of War； my friend；〃 the commandant added as he dismounted； and with a sudden rush of feeling he grasped the laborer's hand。
The old pontooner drew himself up at the words； he knocked the ashes from his pipe； and put it in his pocket。
〃I only did my duty； sir；〃 he said； with his head bent down； 〃but others have not done their duty by me。 They asked for my papers！ Why； the Twenty…ninth Bulletin； I told them； must do instead of my papers！〃
〃But you must make another application； comrade。 You are bound to have justice done you in these days； if influence is brought to bear in the right quarter。〃
〃Justice！〃 cried the veteran。 The doctor and the commandant shuddered at the tone in which he spoke。
In the brief pause that followed； both the horsemen looked at the man before them； who seemed like a fragment of the wreck of great armies which Napoleon had filled with men of bronze sought out from among three generations。 Gondrin was certainly a splendid specimen of that seemingly indestructible mass of men which might be cut to pieces but never gave way。 The old man was scarcely five feet high； wide across the shoulders； and broad…chested； his face was sunburned； furrowed with deep wrinkles； but the outlines were still firm in spite of the hollows in it； and one could see even now that it was the face of a soldier。 It was a rough…hewn countenance； his forehead seemed like a block of granite； but there was a weary expression about his face； and the gray hairs hung scantily about his head； as if life were waning there already。 Everything about him indicated unusual strength； his arms were covered thickly with hair； and so was the chest； which was visible through the opening of his coarse shirt。 In spite of his almost crooked legs； he held himself firm and erect； as if nothing could shake him。
〃Justice；〃 he said once more； 〃there will never be justice for the like of us。 We cannot send bailiffs to the Government to demand our dues for us； and as the wallet must be filled somehow；〃 he said； striking his stomach； 〃we cannot afford to wait。 Moreover； these