"There was no Napoleon there," observed Marteau simply, as if that were adequate answer.
"Napoleon or no Napoleon, wait until Wellington——"
"We shall wait."
"Pardon, Monsieur Yeovil," said the Countess, "will you not allow Monsieur Marteau to proceed?"
"There is little more to tell, mademoiselle. The Emperor saw me come up. I was wet, my arm hung useless, the bullet had gone through my body. There was blood on my uniform coat. I thought that I was dying, that my end was at hand. My strength was ebbing. I concentrated all my will and power. Holding the Eagle, I lifted it up in salute. 'What have we here?' cried the Emperor, fixing his glance upon me. 'Lieutenant Marteau,' I answered. His voice came to me as in a dream and my own voice sounded far away. 'Of what regiment?' 'The Fifth-of-the-Line, Sire.' 'You have saved the Eagle.' 'Yes, Sire,' I replied. And then consciousness left me. As I fell I heard the Emperor say, 'See that he gets the Legion of Honor if he survives.' People caught me in their arms. When I woke up I was in France. Here, at Aumenier, in my father's house."
Young Marteau did not add to his story that, as he fell, he heard the Emperor, deeply moved, exclaim:
"With such men what resources does not France possess?"
"And did the Emperor give you the cross?" eagerly asked the girl.
"It was forgot until a few days since. When I recovered I rejoined the regiment. To take the duty of an officer suddenly ill I happened to be stationed on service near the Emperor at Nogent. When others were urging him to make terms, I, though a young soldier, ventured to express myself to the contrary."
"And then?"