"Rose here!" exclaimed Faraud.
"Do you know the citizeness?" asked Roland, laughing.
"I should think so; she is my wife!" replied Faraud.
"Citizeness," said Bonaparte, "I saw you at work in the midst of the musket balls. Roland wanted to pay you for the brandy you gave him when he came out of the water, but you refused. As I had no brandy here, and my guests each desire a glass, Roland said: 'Let us call the Goddess of Reason, and we can pay her for it all at the same time.' So we called you. Now serve us."
Citizeness Reason tipped her little cask and poured out a glassful for each. She forgot Faraud.
"When the health of the Republic is drunk," observed Roland, "everybody drinks."
"But any one who chooses is at liberty to drink water," cried Bonaparte; and raising his glass, he cried, gayly, "To the health of the Republic."
The toast was repeated in chorus. Then Roland, drawing a parchment from his pocket, said: "Here is your bill of exchange on posterity, but it is in your husband's name. You may indorse it, but he alone can use it."
The Goddess of Reason unfolded the parchment with trembling hands, while Faraud looked on with sparkling eyes.
"Here, Pierre," she cried, "read it! It is your commission as sub-lieutenant in Taberly's place."