Hulotcouldnotmeetit；helookeddowninconfusion。”Heknowseverything！”saidhetohimself。”Doesyourconsciencetellyounothing？”askedtheMarshal，inhisdeep，hollowtones。”Ittellsme，sir，thatIhavebeenwrong，nodoubt，inordering/razzias/inAlgeriawithoutreferringthemattertoyou。Atmyage，andwithmytastes，afterforty-fiveyearsofservice，Ihavenofortune——YouknowtheprinciplesofthefourhundredelectrepresentativesofFrance。Thosegentlemenareenviousofeverydistinction；theyhavepareddowneventheMinisters’pay——thatsayseverything！Askthemformoneyforanoldservant！——WhatcanyouexpectofmenwhopayawholeclasssobadlyastheypaytheGovernmentlegalofficials？——whogivethirtysousadaytothelaborersontheworksatToulon，whenitisaphysicalimpossibilitytolivethereandkeepafamilyonlessthanfortysous？——whoneverthinkoftheatrocityofgivingsalariesofsixhundredfrancs，uptoathousandortwelvehundredperhaps，toclerkslivinginParis；andwhowanttosecureourplacesforthemselvesassoonasthepayrisestofortythousand？——who，finally，refusetorestoretotheCrownapieceofCrownpropertyconfiscatedfromtheCrownin1830——propertyacquired，too，byLouisXVI。outofhisprivypurse！——Ifyouhadnoprivatefortune，Prince，youwouldbelefthighanddry，likemybrother，withyourpayandnotanothersou，andnothoughtofyourhavingsavedthearmy，andmewithit，intheboggyplainsofPoland。””YouhaverobbedtheState！YouhavemadeyourselfliabletobebroughtbeforethebenchatAssizes，”saidtheMarshal，”likethatclerkoftheTreasury！Andyoutakethis，monsieur，withsuchlevity。””Butthereisagreatdifference，monseigneur！”criedthebaron。”HaveIdippedmyhandsintoacashboxintrustedtomycare？””Whenamanofyourrankcommitssuchaninfamouscrime，”saidtheMarshal，”heisdoublyguiltyifhedoesitclumsily。Youhavecompromisedthehonorofourofficialadministration，whichhithertohasbeenthepurestinEurope！——Andallfortwohundredthousandfrancsandahussy！”saidtheMarshal，inaterriblevoice。”YouareaCouncillorofState——andaprivatesoldierwhosellsanythingbelongingtohisregimentispunishedwithdeath！HereisastorytoldtomeonedaybyColonelPourinoftheSecondLancers。AtSaverne，oneofhismenfellinlovewithalittleAlsatiangirlwhohadafancyforashawl。Thejadeteasedthispoordevilofalancersoeffectually，thatthoughhecouldshowtwentyyears’service，andwasabouttobepromotedtobequartermaster——theprideoftheregiment——
tobuythisshawlhesoldsomeofhiscompany’skit——Doyouknowwhatthislancerdid，Barond’Ervy？Heswallowedsomewindow-glassafterpoundingitdown，anddiedinelevenhours，ofanillness，inhospital——Try，ifyouplease，todieofapoplexy，thatwemaynotseeyoudishonored。”
Hulotlookedwithhaggardeyesattheoldwarrior；andthePrince，readingthelookwhichbetrayedthecoward，feltaflushrisetohischeeks；hiseyesflamed。”Willyou，sir，abandonme？”Hulotstammered。
MarshalHulot，hearingthatonlyhisbrotherwaswiththeMinister，venturedatthisjuncturetocomein，and，likealldeafpeople，wentstraightuptothePrince。”Oh，”criedtheheroofPoland，”Iknowwhatyouareherefor，myoldfriend！Butwecandonothing。””Donothing！”echoedMarshalHulot，whohadheardonlythelastword。”Nothing；youhavecometointercedeforyourbrother。Butdoyouknowwhatyourbrotheris？””Mybrother？”askedthedeafman。”Yes，heisadamnedinfernalblackguard，andunworthyofyou。”
TheMarshalinhisrageshotfromhiseyesthosefulminatingfireswhich，likeNapoleon’s，brokeaman’swillandjudgment。”Youlie，Cottin！”saidMarshalHulot，turningwhite。”ThrowdownyourbatonasIthrowmine！Iamready。”