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〃If I had known all this； I would have killed Renard then and there； without giving him time to draw another breath； but the father； the mother； the girl herself； and the quartermaster were all in the plot like thieves in a fair。 While I was smoking my pipe； and worshiping Judith as if she had been one of the saints above； the worthy Renard was arranging to meet her； and managing this piece of business very cleverly under my very eyes。
〃You are the only person to whom I have told this story。 A disgraceful thing； I call it。 I have always asked myself how it is that a man who would die of shame if he took a gold coin that did not belong to him； does not scruple to rob a friend of happiness and life and the woman he loves。 My birds； in fact； were married and happy； and there was I； every evening at supper； moonstruck； gazing at Judith； responding like some fellow in a farce to the looks she threw to me in order to throw dust in my eyes。 They have paid uncommonly dear for all this deceit； as you will certainly think。 On my conscience； God pays more attention to what goes on in this world than some of us imagine。
〃Down come the Russians upon us； the country is overrun； and the campaign of 1813 begins in earnest。 One fine morning comes an order； we are to be on the battlefield of Lutzen by a stated hour。 The Emperor knew quite well what he was about when he ordered us to start at once。 The Russians had turned our flank。 Our colonel must needs get himself into a scrape； by choosing that moment to take leave of a Polish lady who lived outside the town； a quarter of a mile away； the Cossack advanced guard just caught him nicely； him and his picket。 There was scarcely time to spring into our saddles and draw up before the town so as to engage in a cavalry skirmish。 We must check the Russian advance if we meant to draw off during the night。 Again and again we charged； and for three hours did wonders。 Under cover of the fighting the baggage and artillery set out。 We had a park of artillery and great stores of powder； of which the Emperor stood in desperate need； they must reach him at all costs。
〃Our resistance deceived the Russians； who thought at first that we were supported by an army corps； but before very long they learned their error from their scouts； and knew that they had only a single regiment of cavalry to deal with and the invalided foot soldiers in the depot。 On finding it out； sir； they made a murderous onslaught on us towards evening； the action was so hot that a good few of us were left on the field。 We were completely surrounded。 I was by Renard's side in the front rank； and I saw how my friend fought and charged like a demon； he was thinking of his wife。 Thanks to him； we managed to regain the town； which our invalids had put more or less in a state of defence； but it was pitiful to see it。 We were the last to return he and I。 A body of Cossacks appeared in our way； and on this we rode in hot haste。 One of the savages was about to run me through with a lance； when Renard； catching a sight of his manoeuvre； thrust his horse between us to turn aside the blow； his poor brutea fine animal it was； upon my wordreceived the lance thrust and fell； bringing down both Renard and the Cossack with him。 I killed the Cossack； seized Renard by the arm； and laid him crosswise before me on my horse like a sack of wheat。
〃 'Good…bye； captain；' Renard said； 'it is all over with me。'
〃 'Not yet；' I answered； 'I must have a look at you。' We had reached the town by that time； I dismounted； and propped him up on a little straw by the corner of the house。 A wound in the head had laid open the brain； and yet he spoke！ 。 。 。 Oh！ he was a brave man。
〃 'We are quits；' he said。 'I have given you my life； and I had taken Judith from you。 Take care of her and of her child； if she has one。 And not only soyou must marry her。'
〃I left him then and there sir； like a dog； when the first fury of anger left me； and I went back againhe was dead。 The Cossacks had set fire to the town； and the thought of Judith then came to my mind。 I went in search of her； took her up behind me in the saddle； and； thanks to my swift horse； caught up the regiment which was effecting its retreat。 As for the Jew and his family； there was not one of them left； they had all disappeared like rats； there was no one but Judith in the house； waiting alone there for Renard。 At first； as you can understand； I told her not a word of all that had happened。
〃So it befell that all through the disastrous campaign of 1813 I had a woman to look after； to find quarters for her； and to see that she was comfortable。 She scarcely knew； I think； the straits to which we were reduced。 I was always careful to keep her ten leagues ahead of us as we drew back towards France。 Her boy was born while we were fighting at Hanau。 I was wounded in the engagement； and only rejoined Judith at Strasburg； then I returned to Paris； for； unluckily； I was laid up all through the campaign in France。 If it had not been for that wretched mishap； I should have entered the Grenadier Guards； and then the Emperor would have promoted me。 As it was； sir； I had three broken ribs and another man's wife and child to support！ My pay； as you can imagine； was not exactly the wealth of the Indies。 Renard's father； the toothless old shark； would have nothing to say to his daughter…in… law； and the old father Jew had made off。 Judith was fretting herself to death。 She cried one morning while she was dressing my wound。
〃 'Judith；' said I； 'your child has nothing in this world'
〃 'Neither have I！' she said。
〃 'Pshaw！' I answered； 'we will send for all the necessary papers； I will marry you； and as for the child； I will look on him as mine' I could not say any more。
〃Ah； my dear sir； what would not one do for the look by which Judith thanked mea look of thanks from dying eyes； I saw clearly that I had loved； and should love her always； and from that day her child found a place in my heart。 She died； poor woman； while the father and mother Jews and the papers were on the way。 The day before she died； she found strength enough to rise and dress herself for her wedding； to go through all the usual performance； and set her name to their pack of papers； then； when her child had a name and a father； she went back to her bed again； I kissed her hands and her forehead； and she died。
〃That was my wedding。 Two days later； when I had bought the few feet of earth in which the poor girl is laid； I found myself the father of an orphan child。 I put him out to nurse during the campaign of 1815。 Ever since that time； without letting any one know my story； which did not sound very well； I have looked after the little rogue as if he were my own child。 I don't know what became of his grandfather； he is wandering about； a ruined man； somewhere or other between Russia and Persia。 The chances are that he may make a fortune some day； for he seemed to understand the trade in precious stones。
〃I sent the child to school。 I wanted him to take a good place at the Ecole Polytechnique and to see him graduate there with credit； so of late I have had him drilled in mathematics to such good purpose that the poor little soul has been knocked up by it。 He has a delicate chest。 By all I can make out from the doctors in Paris； there would be some hope for him still if he were allowed to run wild among the hills； if he was properly cared for； and constantly looked after by somebody who was willing to undertake the task。 So I thought of you； and I came here to take stock of your ideas and your ways of life。 After what you have told me； I could not possibly cause you pain in this way； for we are good friends already。〃
〃Commandant；〃 said Benassis after a moment's pause； 〃bring Judith's child here to me。 It is doubtless God's will to submit me to this final trial； and I will endure it。 I will offer up these sufferings to God； whose Son died upon the cross。 Besides； your story has awakened tender feelings； does not that auger well for me？〃
Genestas took both of Benassis' hands and pressed them warmly； unable to check the tears that filled his eyes and coursed down his sunburned face。
〃Let us keep silence with regard to all this；〃 he sai