"What is it?"
"Well, it may be a weakness, but it will remain between ourselves, will it not? When I die I should like to embrace a compatriot. We are both children of the Jura, this young boy and I; our families live in Besançon, and are on a friendly footing. Some day he will go home, and tell how he met me by chance, how he followed me up to the last moment, and saw me die."
The captain looked inquiringly at the boy. He was weeping.
"Why," he said, "if it can give you both any pleasure—"
"I do not suppose that it will give him much pleasure, but it will please me."
"I see no objection, and, since you, the person most interested, ask it—"
"It is granted," said the prisoner.
"Granted," replied the captain.
The troop, which had halted for a moment at the crossroads, now resumed its march. At the top of the little hill they saw the citadel of Auenheim. It was the goal of their sad journey. Charles drew closer to the prisoner.
"You see," said the latter, "so far all goes beautifully."