"Young," said the artist, with a sneer, "you are deceived there again; I am at least two years older than you; as to crowing, it is very easy to swagger and act the 'eater up of little children,' when you are fifty to two."
"Those people down there," pursued the officer, "are they not with you?"
"Yes, they are with us; but what matters that? In the first place, they are inferior to you in number, and next, they are not soldiers."
"Agreed," answered the captain, twirling his moustache with a mocking smile, "I grant you that; what do you wish to conclude from it?"
"Only this, Captain; that we Frenchmen bear insults with great difficulty, no matter where they come from; and that if we were only equal in numbers, this would not have happened."
"Aha, you are brave!"
"Pardieu; revenge is sweet."
"That is swagger also, it appears to me."
"It is an honourable boast."
"Listen," said the captain, after a moment, with exquisite politeness. "I fear I have been deceived with regard to you, and I sincerely ask your pardon for it. I agree to give you free passage, and to those who accompany you, but on one condition."