He remained a few minutes longer in meditation; then, satisfied at last, he decided to leave the château. In the street, he took Aurelle's arm very kindly.
"My friend," he said, "I think that will do, thank you. And if you ever have the opportunity of seeing Their
Majesties, don't let it slip by. In France, you have very wrong ideas, I assure you; since the Revolution, you have a prejudice against Royal Families. It is childish; you can take my word for it. I have been living with this one for more than five years, and I assure you they are quite respectable people."
CHAPTER IX
PRÉLUDE À LA SOIRÉE D'UN GÉNÉRAL
"... of cabbages and kings."—Lewis Carroll.
A blue forage-cap appeared under the flap of the camouflaged tent.
"Messiou," cried the general, "we were beginning to despair of ever seeing you again."
"Yo-ho! Hello—o!" shouted the Infant Dundas. "I am glad! Come and have some lunch, old man."
Aurelle, happy to find his friends again, fell to heartily on the mutton, boiled potatoes and mint sauce. When they reached the cheese, General Bramble questioned him about his journey.
"Well, Messiou, what about your leave? What is Paris looking like nowadays, and why did your mother the French Mission tell us she was keeping you two days at Abbeville?"