“The general bent on me a look of passionate meaning, as with a hissing tone he said, 'Do you mean this?'
“'Yes,' said I, tearing it away, and trampling it beneath my feet,—'yes! it is not a Noailles can wear the badge of infamy and crime; the blood-stained tricolor can find slight favor here.'
“'Hush, boy! hush, for Heaven's sake!' cried my uncle, trembling with fear.
“The caution came too late. The general, taking a note-book from his pocket, opened it leisurely, and then turning towards the viscount, said, 'This youth's name is—'
“'Duchesne; Henri Duchesne.'
“'And his age?'
“'Fourteen in March,' replied my uncle, as his eyes filled up; while he added, in a half whisper, 'if you mean the conscription, General, he has already supplied a substitute.'
“'No matter, sir, if he had sent twenty; such defect of education as his needs correction. He shall join the levies at Toulon in three days; in three days, mark me! Depend upon it, sir,' said he, turning to me, 'you shall learn a lesson beneath that tricolor you'll be somewhat long in forgetting. Dumolle, look to this.' With this direction to his aide-de-camp he arose, and before my poor unhappy uncle could recover his self-possession to reply, had left the room.
“'He will not do this, sir; surely, he will not,' said the viscount to the young officer.
“'General Bonaparte does not relent, sir; and if he did, he 'd never show it,' was the cold reply.