"That was certainly more than he needed."
"Yes, general," said Falou, laughing at the joke he had in mind to say, "but one can't always stop to measure."
"I was not blaming you, Falou."
"Well, then, he fell, and there was a magnificent horse without a rider. I took him by the bridle, and just then I saw the captain, who had no horse at all, and so I said to myself: 'This horse belongs to the captain.' I put spurs to him, and he struggled like the devil in holy water in the midst of five or six aristocrats. I killed one and wounded another. 'Come, captain!' I called out to him, 'put your foot in the stirrup.' When his foot was in the stirrup it did not take him long to mount, and that's all there is to it."
"No, that is not all; for you cannot make me a present of a horse."
"Why can't I make you a present of a horse? Are you too proud to take it from me?"
"No; and to prove it, my brave fellow, will you do me the honor to put your hand there."
"The honor will be mine, captain," said Falou, advancing toward Abatucci.
The officer and the soldier clasped hands.
"Now I am paid, and I even owe you something; but no money, captain," said Falou.