"Give that to monsieur the prince, with his captain's compliments, and keep this for yourself. Tell him, sergeant"—he laid stress upon the word—"that I am sorry for his misfortune and proud to have had such a man in my company. Say to him exactly what I have said to you."
"Yes, my captain," I answered, saluted again, thanked him for the cigars, and went away. Let me say here, though it does somewhat anticipate events, that the captain was my good friend afterwards, and more than once broke my fall when I got into trouble. The death of Nicholas deprived me of a good comrade. By it I gained a friend in a higher position, but I would any day have surrendered the captain's good will if by so doing I could regain the companion of the barrack-room and the canteen.
When I got back to the company, I reported my return at once to the sergeant. He asked me what the captain wanted me for, and I told him that the officer had questioned me about the affair of the banner and about Nicholas. I said nothing of the money or the cigars.
"Did he tell you anything?"
"Yes; he said that I was to be sergeant to-morrow."
"Indeed," said the sergeant.
"I suppose, sergeant, I may thank you for a favourable report about to-day's fight."
"I only told the truth," said the sergeant, "and I always liked you when I was corporal of the squad."
Then I told him about the captain's permission to me to absent myself for an hour in the morning so that I might pay a visit to Nicholas.
"You must tell that," he replied, "to the sub-lieutenant in charge; an officer has been sent to us from another company."