The Exploits of Brigadier Gerard eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 269 pages of information about The Exploits of Brigadier Gerard.

The Exploits of Brigadier Gerard eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 269 pages of information about The Exploits of Brigadier Gerard.

‘Nay, we breed no such men in Poland,’ he answered.

‘A Frenchman, then?’ cried Duroc.

‘They say that he came from France.’

‘And with red hair?’

‘As red as a fox.’

‘Yes, yes, it is my man,’ cried my companion, quivering all over in his excitement.  ’It is the hand of Providence which has led me here.  Who can say that there is not justice in this world?  Come, Monsieur Gerard, for I must see the men safely quartered before I can attend to this private matter.’

He spurred on his horse, and ten minutes later we were at the door of the inn of Arensdorf, where his men were to find their quarters for the night.

Well, all this was no affair of mine, and I could not imagine what the meaning of it might be.  Rossel was still far off, but I determined to ride on for a few hours and take my chance of some wayside barn in which I could find shelter for Rataplan and myself.  I had mounted my horse, therefore, after tossing off a cup of wine, when young Duroc came running out of the door and laid his hand upon my knee.

‘Monsieur Gerard,’ he panted, ’I beg of you not to abandon me like this!’

‘My good sir,’ said I, ’if you would tell me what is the matter and what you would wish me to do, I should be better able to tell you if I could be of any assistance to you.’

‘You can be of the very greatest,’ he cried.  ’Indeed, from all that I have heard of you, Monsieur Gerard, you are the one man whom I should wish to have by my side tonight.’

‘You forget that I am riding to join my regiment.’

’You cannot, in any case, reach it tonight.  Tomorrow will bring you to Rossel.  By staying with me you will confer the very greatest kindness upon me, and you will aid me in a matter which concerns my own honour and the honour of my family.  I am compelled, however, to confess to you that some personal danger may possibly be involved.’

It was a crafty thing for him to say.  Of course, I sprang from Rataplan’s back and ordered the groom to lead him back into the stables.

‘Come into the inn,’ said I, ’and let me know exactly what it is that you wish me to do.’

He led the way into a sitting-room, and fastened the door lest we should be interrupted.  He was a well-grown lad, and as he stood in the glare of the lamp, with the light beating upon his earnest face and upon his uniform of silver grey, which suited him to a marvel, I felt my heart warm towards him.  Without going so far as to say that he carried himself as I had done at his age, there was at least similarity enough to make me feel in sympathy with him.

‘I can explain it all in a few words,’ said he.  ’If I have not already satisfied your very natural curiosity, it is because the subject is so painful a one to me that I can hardly bring myself to allude to it.  I cannot, however, ask for your assistance without explaining to you exactly how the matter lies.

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The Exploits of Brigadier Gerard from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.