"Enough, General," said Valmond; "I understand. I will go down into the village—eh, monsieur?" he added, turning to Parpon with impressive consideration.
"Sire, there is one behind these mockers," answered the little man in a low voice.
Valmond turned towards Madame Chalice. "I know my enemy, madame," he said.
"Your enemy is not here," she rejoined kindly.
He stooped over her hand, and bowed Lagroin and Parpon to the door.
"Madame," he said, "I thank you. Will you accept a souvenir of him whom we both love, martyr and friend of France?"
He drew from his breast a small painting of Napoleon, on ivory, and handed it to her.
"It was the work of David," he continued. "You will find it well authenticated. Look upon the back of it."
She looked, and her heart beat a little faster. "This was done when he was alive?" she said.
"For the King of Rome," he answered. "Adieu, madame. Again I thank you, for our cause as for myself."