"
"Such much for your learning, my lad; it isn't an emblem--it's called
a problem. I've served in the artillery," continued Beau-Pied, "and
problems were meat and drink to my officers."
"I say it's an emblem."
"It's a problem."
"What will you bet?"
"Anything."
"Your German pipe?"
"Done!"
"By your leave, adjutant, isn't that thing an emblem, and not a
problem?" said Clef-des-Coeurs, following Gerard, who was thoughtfully
walking away.
"It is both," he replied, gravely.
"The adjutant was making fun of you," said Beau-Pied. "That paper
means that our general in Italy is promoted Consul, which is a fine
grade, and we are to get shoes and overcoats."
II
ONE OF FOUCHE'S IDEAS
One morning towards the end of Brumaire just as Hulot was exercising
his brigade, now by order of his superiors wholly concentrated at
Mayenne, a courier arrived from Alencon with despatches, at the
reading of which his face betrayed extreme annoyance.
"Forward, then!" he cried in an angry tone, sticking the papers into
the crown of his hat. "Two companies will march with me towards
Mortagne. The Chouans are there. You will accompany me," he said to
Merle and Gerard. "May be I created a nobleman if I can understand one
word of that despatch. Perhaps I'm a fool! well, anyhow, forward,
march! there's no time to lose.
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