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a living representative of these cowardly plots； that I may at once make
an end of him！They press upon me from all sides； they make my life a
hellyou know itand you do nothing to save me from these tortures；
which are killing me as by a slow fire。 Can I have no one in whom to
trust？〃
〃General； I can't let you say that；〃 replied Dagobert； in a calm； but
firm voice。
〃And why not？〃
〃General； I can't let you say that you have no one to trust to。 You
might end perhaps in believing it； and then it would be even worse for
yourself； than for those who well know their devotion for you； and would
go through fire and water to serve you。 I am one of themand you know
it。〃
These simple words； pronounced by Dagobert with a tone of deep
conviction； recalled the marshal to himself； for although his honorable
and generous character might from time to time be embittered by
irritation and grief； he soon recovered his natural equanimity。 So；
addressing Dagobert in a less abrupt tone； he said to him； though still
much agitated： 〃You are right。 I could never doubt your fidelity。 But
anger deprives me of my senses。 This infamous letter is enough to drive
one mad。 I am unjust； ungratefulyes； ungratefuland to you！〃
〃Do not think of me； general。 With a kind word at the end； you might
blow me up all the year round。 But what has happened？〃
The general's countenance again darkened； as he answered rapidly： 〃I am
looked down upon； and despised！〃
〃You？〃
〃Yes I。 After all；〃 resumed the marshal bitterly； 〃why should I conceal
from you this new wound？ If I doubted you a moment； I owe you some
compensation； and you shall know all。 For some time past； I perceived
that； when I meet any of my old companions in arms； they try to avoid
me …〃
〃What！ was it to this that the anonymous letter alluded？〃
〃Yes； and it spoke the truth；〃 replied the marshal； with a sigh of grief
and indignation。
〃But it is impossible； generalyou are so loved and respected〃
〃Those are mere words； I speak of positive facts。 When I appear； the
conversation is often interrupted。 Instead of treating me as an old
comrade； they affect towards me a rigorously cold politeness。 There are
a thousand little shades； a thousand trifles； which wound the heart； but
which it is impossible to notice〃
〃What you are now saying； general； quite confounds me；〃 replied Dagobert。
〃You assure me of it； and I am forced to believe you。〃
〃Oh； it is intolerable！ I was resolved to ease my heart of it； so； this
morning； I went to General d'Havrincourt； who was colonel with me in the
Imperial Guard； he is honor and honesty itself。 I went to him with open
heart。 ‘I perceive；' said I； ‘the coldness that is shown me。 Some
calumny must be circulating to my disadvantage。 Tell me all about it。
Knowing the attack； I shall be able to defend myself'
〃Well； general？〃
〃D'Havrincourt remained impassible ceremoniously polite。 To all my
questions he answered coldly： ‘I am not aware； my lord duke； that any
calumny has been circulated with regard to you。''Do not call me 〃my
lord duke；〃 my dear D'Havrincourt； we are old fellow…soldiers and
friends； my honor is somewhat touchy； I confess； and I find that you and
our comrades do not receive me so cordially； as in times past。 You do
not deny it； I see； I know； I feel it。' To all this D'Havrincourt
answered； with the same coldness： ‘I have never seen any one wanting in
respect towards you。''I am not talking of respect；' exclaimed I； as I
clasped his hand affectionately； though I observed that he but feebly
returned the pressure； ‘I speak of cordiality； confidence； which I once
enjoyed； while now I am treated like a stranger。 Why is it？ What has
occasioned this change？'Still cold and reserved； he answered： ‘These
distinctions are so nice； marshal； that it is impossible for me to give
you any opinion on the subject。'My heart swelled with grief and anger。
What was I to do？ To quarrel with D'Havrincourt would have been absurd。
A sense of dignity forced me to break off the interview； but it has only
confirmed my fears。 Thus；〃 added the marshal； getting more and more
animated； 〃thus am I fallen from the esteem to which I am entitled； thus
am I despised； without even knowing the cause！ Is it not odious？ If
they would only utter a charge against meI should at least be able to
defend myself； and to find an answer。 But no； no！ not even a wordonly
the cold politeness that is worse than any insult。 Oh！ it is too much；
too much！ for all this comes but in addition to other cares。 What a life
is mine since the death of my father！ If I did but find rest and
happiness at homebut no！ I come in； but to read shameful letters； and
still worse；〃 added the marshal； in a heartrending tone； and after a
moment's hesitation； 〃to find my children grow more and more indifferent
towards me
〃Yes；〃 continued he； perceiving the amazement of Dagobert； 〃and yet they
know how much I love them！〃
〃Your daughters indifferent！〃 exclaimed Dagobert； in astonishment。 〃You
make them such a reproach？〃
〃Oh！ I do not blame them。 They have hardly had time to know me。〃
〃Not had time to know you？〃 returned the soldier； in a tone of
remonstrance； and warming up in his turn。 〃Ah！ of what did their mother
talk to them； except you？ and I too！ what could I teach your children
except to know and love you？〃
〃You take their partthat is naturalthey love you better than they do
me；〃 said the marshal； with growing bitterness。 Dagobert felt himself so
painfully affected； that he looked at the marshal without answering。
〃Yes！〃 continued the other； 〃yes！ it may be base and ungratefulbut no
matter！Twenty times I have felt jealous of the affectionate confidence
which my children display towards you； while with me they seem always to
be in fear。 If their melancholy faces ever grow animated for a moment；
it is in talking to you； in seeing you； while for me they have nothing
but cold respectand that kills me。 Sure of the affection of my
children； I would have braved and surmounted every difficulty〃 Then；
seeing that Dagobert rushed towards the door which led to the chamber of
Rose and Blanche； the marshal asked： 〃Where are you going？〃
〃For your daughters； general。〃
〃What for？〃
〃To bring them face to face with youto tell them： ‘My children； your
father thinks that you do not love him。'I will only say thatand then
you will see。〃
〃Dagobert！ I forbid you to do it；〃 cried the marshal； hastily。
〃I don't care for thatyou have no right to be unjust to the poor
children；〃 said the soldier； as he again advanced towards the door。
〃Dagobert； I command you to remain here；〃 cried the marshal。
〃Listen to me； general。 I am your soldier； your inferior； your servant；
if you will；〃 said the old grenadier； roughly； 〃but neither rank nor
station shall keep me silent； when I have to defend your daughters。 All
must be explainedI know but one wayand that is to bring honest people
face to face。〃
If the marshal had not seized him by the arm； Dagobert would have entered
the apartment of the young girls。
〃Remain！〃 said the marshal； so imperiously that the soldier； accustomed
to