He was still embracing his wife and little child, when the same soldier who had already been sent to him, called to ask him not to take the flags without exchanging a last word with the general.
Wait, wait a bit, cuckoo,
Bonaparte is coming, who
Soon will force you to restore
All you stole from us before.
CHAPTER XXX
THE BREAKING OF THE STORM
The general received Frederic with the same calm and gracious expression as before.
"Excuse me for delaying," he said, "after I was so anxious to speed you; but I have a little service to ask."
Frederic bowed.
"It is about General Manteuffel's subsidy of twenty-five millions of florins. You know about it, don't you?"