“There,” said he at length, “there! You see that island in the great sea, with nothing near it; thou mayest go there.”
“How is it called?” said “L'Homme Rouge.”
“St. Helena,” said the general. “It is not very large; but I promise thee to be undisturbed there.”
“You 'll never come there, then? Is that a pledge?”
“Never; I promise it. At least, if I do, thou shalt be the master, and I the slave.”
“Enough! I go now. Adieu!” said the little man. And the same instant the sentinel felt his arm brushed by some one passing close beside him; and then all was silent in the tent once more.
“Thus, you see,” said the sergeant-major, “from that hour it was agreed on the Emperor should conquer the whole world, and leave that one little spot for 'L'Homme Rouge.' Parbleu! he might well spare him that much.”
“How big might it be, that island?” said an old grenadier, who listened with the deepest attention to the tale.
“Nothing to speak of; about the size of one battalion drawn up in square.”
“Pardieu! a small kingdom too!”