"I beg your pardon, general," he said; "the reason you do not know me is because you are too young; because you were not with the Army of the Rhine at the battle of Dawendorff, and at Froeschwiller, as well as the recapture of the lines of Weissembourg. If you had been there—"
"I was at Toulon," said Bonaparte, dryly: "and if you drove the Prussians out of France at Weissembourg, I did as much for the English at Toulon, which was fully as important."
"That is true," said Falou; "and we even put your name on the order of the day. I was wrong to say that you were too young; I acknowledge it and beg your pardon. But I was right in saying that you were not there, since you yourself admit that you were at Toulon."
"Go on," said Bonaparte; "have you anything more to say?"
"Yes, general," replied Falou.
"Then say it," replied Bonaparte; "but as we are Republicans, be good enough to call me citizen-general when you address me."
"Bravo!" cried Faraud; and his seconds, Groseiller and Vincent, nodded approvingly.
Falou's seconds did not betray either their approval or disapproval.
"Well, citizen-general!" said Falou, with that familiarity of speech which the principle of equality had introduced into the army, "if you had been at Dawendorff, faith! you would have seen me save General Abatucci's life during a charge of cavalry, and he is as good as any man."
"Ah!" said Bonaparte, "thanks! I believe that Abatucci is a sort of cousin of mine."