"One of the finest ships in our navy!" the General interrupted, with a sigh.
"Yes, General, but unhappily it is now an accomplished fact. While this was taking place, other insurgents, commanded by the Jaguar in person, got into the Fort of the Point, and carried it almost without a blow."
"But what you tell me is impossible!" the old soldier interrupted with a burst of passion.
"I tell you nothing that is not rigorously true, General."
"The vague rumours that have reached me, led me to suppose that the insurgents had dealt us a fresh blow but I was far from suspecting such a frightful catastrophe."
"I swear to you, on my honour, as, a soldier, General, that I only tell you the most rigid truth:"
"I believe you, my friend, for I know how brave and worthy of confidence you are. Still, the news you give me is so frightful, that, in spite of myself, I should like to be able to doubt it."
"Unhappily, that is impossible."
The General, suffering from a fury which was the more terrible as it was concentrated, walked up and down the room, clenching his fists, and muttering broken sentences. The Colonel looked after him sadly, not dreaming of offering him any of those conventional consolations which, far from offering any relief to pain, only render it sharper and more poignant. At the end of some minutes, the General succeeded so far in mastering his emotion as to draw back to his heart the annoyance he felt. He sat down again by the Colonel's side, and took his hand kindly.
"You have not yet given me your advice," he said with a ghost of a smile.