The soldiers laughed at the second joke as heartily as they laughed at the first.
"He can't spend much on trousers," said one.
"And less for boots," added the facetious corporal.
"Aren't they hideous?" said the Limousin. "Upon my word, you might think 'em a monkey mounted on a bear."
While these poor waggeries were flying about and reaching Trigaud's ear, he stood immovable, holding out his hand and giving a most pitiable expression to his face, while Aubin Courte-Joie, in his capacity as orator of the association, repeated, in his nasal voice, the unvarying formula:--
"Charity, if you please, my good gentlemen!--charity for a poor cartman with both legs taken off by his cart, coming down the hill at Ancenis."
"What ignorant savages they must be to expect alms of soldiers in garrison. Scamps! I'll bet if we searched their pockets we'd find double what we have got in our own."
Hearing which suggestion, Aubin Courte-Joie modified the formula, and came down to a precise request:--
"A bit of bread, just a bit of bread, if you please, my good gentlemen," he said. "If you haven't any money you have surely a bit of bread."
"Bread!" said the corporal. "Yes, you shall have bread, my good man; and with the bread, soup, and with the soup a bit of meat. We'll do that for you; but I should like to know what you'll do for us."