"The corporal is right!" chorused the soldiers.
"I am always right," said he of the woollen stripes, "first as your corporal, next as your superior; and if there are any of you who doubt after I have once said a thing, he is going to be convinced now, for here come the men straight toward us."
As he spoke, the tramp who had roused the discussion (in whom our readers have no doubt recognized Trigaud-Vermin, as in his bagpipe, organ, or sack, they have also recognized his rider, Aubin Courte-Joie) turned off the main-road to the left, and came up the flight of steps which led to the guard-house.
"What a pair of brigands!" said one of the soldiers. "If they caught us alone, behind a hedge, either of those rascals would clip us a shot, wouldn't he, corporal?"
"Like enough," responded the latter.
"But as we are all here together they come and beg,--ha, the cowards!"
"I'll be shot if I give 'em a penny," said the soldier who had spoken first.
"See here!" said another, picking up a stone; "I'll put something into his hat."
"I forbid you," said the corporal.
"Why so?"