CHAPTER VI.
THE FIGHT AT LA GALLETTE.
Danton was lying on the ground, but he was not asleep. He looked up, at the sound of Menard’s footsteps, and then, recognizing him, lowered his eyes again. The Captain hesitated, standing over the prostrate figure.
“Danton,” he said finally, “I want you to tell me the truth.”
The boy made no reply, and Menard, after waiting for a moment, sat upon a log.
“I have decided to do rather an unusual thing, Danton,” he said slowly, “in offering to talk it over with you as a friend, and not as an officer. In one thing you must understand me: Mademoiselle St. Denis has been intrusted to my care, and until she has safely reached those who have a right to share the direction of her actions, I can allow nothing of this sort to go on. You must understand that. If you will talk with me frankly, and try to control yourself 104 for the present, it may be that I can be of service to you later on.”
There was a long silence. Finally, Danton spoke, without raising his head.
“Is there need of this, M’sieu? Is it not enough that she––that Mademoiselle dismisses me?”
“Oh,” said Menard, “that is it?”
“Yes.”