"Prisoners?"
"Three thousand."
"How many of the enemy killed?"
"Fully seven thousand."
"How many did we lose?"
"Scarcely twenty-five hundred."
"You will go to Paris with the rank of colonel, which I shall ask the government to confirm. You will present the five flags to the Convention in the names of General Hoche and myself, and you will take with you the report that General Hoche is preparing. Estève will give you a thousand francs to cover your expenses. My choice of you to carry the captured flags to the Convention, as well as the rank I have just bestowed upon you, proves my esteem for your courage and ability. If you see your cousin Bonaparte remind him of the fact that I was his tutor at Brienne."
Abatucci pressed the hand which the general held out to him, saluted, and retired.
"And now we are by ourselves, little Charles!" said Pichegru.