The young man made three steps and came within the circle of light.
“So you are the man who wished to cross the bridge before me?” continued Bonaparte.
“It was done on a wager, general,” gayly answered the young lieutenant, whose voice made the general start.
“Did I make you lose it?”
“Maybe, yes; maybe, no.”
“What was the wager?”
“That I should be promoted captain to-day.”
“You have won it.”
“Thank you, general.”
The young man moved hastily forward as if to press Bonaparte’s hand, but checked himself almost immediately. The light had fallen full on his face for an instant; that instant sufficed to make the general notice the face as he had the voice. Neither the one nor the other was unknown to him. He searched his memory for an instant, but finding it rebellious, said: “I know you!”