"The very same."
"But how?"
"The boy here and I marked the spot where it fell. We took bearings, as a sailor would say; we took them independently, and when we had a chance to compare them we found that we agreed exactly. When I was released from prison and discharged from the hospital as a convalescent, we went back to Arcis, to the bridge, to the river side. The boy here is an expert swimmer. The river was low. He dove into the icy waters again and again until he found it. We were most circumspect in our movements. No one observed us. I wrapped it up, concealed it carefully, learned that the regiment was here, and I surrender it into your hands."
"It is a shame," began Lestoype gloomily at last, laying the Eagle gently down on his desk.
"What is a shame?"
"The order."
"What order?"
"The Eagles of all the regiments and ships are to be sent to Paris to be destroyed."
"Impossible!"
"Nevertheless, it is true. They have taken them wherever they could lay hands on them. It has almost caused a revolt."