Now Bertuccio appeared.
"Count," said he, "here is a soldier who desires to speak to you!"
"Ah—the Zouave Coucou—let him come in!"
The Jackal entered and inquiringly looked around—yes, here it was almost as nice as in Africa.
"Coucou," the count commenced, "I have obtained for you an unlimited furlough."
Coucou scratched his head.
"Well—is it, perhaps, not acceptable to you?"
"Not exactly that, commander, but what am I to do in the intervening time? Africa's sun, the Bedouins, the Jackals, nay even the Hyenas I shall miss."
"Well, perhaps we can find a remedy—to-morrow at daybreak we depart for Algiers."
"To Algiers—is that true?" joyfully exclaimed Coucou, throwing his cap in the air and making a salute, which perhaps was not fashionable, but nevertheless significant.