The personal affairs of six soldiers in the second class do not seem a very serious matter, especially in such busy times. Still, it took all Jules' activity to attend to them.
"I say, old fellow, we are coming down from the outposts this evening and sleeping in the village. Run along and find us a house."
Jules pretends to be considerably embarrassed. He raises his arms, takes his képi between his first finger and thumb, and scratching his head with his other three fingers, says—
"That's just your way! Jules, find me this, or Jules, find me that! This very morning, Jules cut the roll-call to do your messages, and the corporal marked him absent."
"Come! come! not so much talk. We shall be in the village by nightfall. You must get there before us. We rely on you for beds and dinner."
"What if I am caught by the gendarmes? Or suppose I meet the colonel?"
Then we appeal to his vanity—
"You can easily outwit all the gendarmes in the place. And a fellow like you is clever enough to make up some plausible tale that will satisfy the colonel."
An appeal is also made to his interests. Nothing further is needed, and when, five minutes afterwards, some one calls for Jules, he has disappeared.
The lodging is found and dinner in full swing. Jules confides to the company in general—