“Ha!” said he, “that was the very first thing I told him.”
“What did you tell him?”
“That my sister hadn’t a penny. How can the children of republican generals be rich?”
“And what did he answer?”
“That he was rich enough for two.”
“You see, therefore, that that was not the real reason for his refusal.”
“And it is your opinion that one of your aides-de-camp can receive such an insult, and not demand satisfaction?”
“In such situations the person who feels affronted must judge of the matter for himself, my dear Roland.”
“General, how many days do you think it will be before we have a decisive action?”
Bonaparte calculated.