“Colonel Dujardin will lend you his tent, I am sure.”
“Certainly.”
“And, messieurs,” said Raynal, “if I waste time you need not. You can pick me my men from your brigades. Give me a strong spice of old hands.”
The colonels withdrew on this, and General Raimbaut walked sadly and thoughtfully towards the battery. Dujardin and Raynal were left alone.
“This postpones our affair, sir.”
“Yes, Raynal.”
“Have you writing materials in your tent?”
“Yes; on the table.”
“You are quite sure the bastion is mined, comrade?”
This unexpected word and Raynal’s gentle appeal touched Dujardin deeply. It was in a broken voice he replied that he was unfortunately too sure of it.