“Yes, colonel.—Lord, here is my young mistress’s husband!”
“Silence!”
And they began to draw, and, in the act of drawing, a change of manner was first visible in these gay and ardent spirits.
“It is not I,” said one, throwing away his lot.
“Nor I.”
“It is I,” said Raynal; then with sudden gravity, “I am the lucky one.”
And now that the honor and the danger no longer floated vaguely over four heads, but had fixed on one, a sudden silence and solemnity took the place of eager voices.
It was first broken by Private Dard saying, with foolish triumph, “And I held the hat for you, colonel.”
“Ah, Raynal!” said General Raimbaut, sorrowfully, “it was not worth while to come from Egypt for this.”
Raynal made no reply to this. He drew out his watch, and said calmly, he had no time to lose; he must inspect the detachments he was to command. “Besides,” said he, “I have some domestic arrangements to make. Hitherto on these occasions I was a bachelor, now I am married.” General Raimbaut could not help sighing. Raynal read this aright, and turned to him, “A droll marriage, my old friend; I’ll tell you all about it if ever I have the time. It began with a purchase, general, and ends with—with a bequest, which I might as well write now, and so have nothing to think of but duty afterwards. Where can I write?”