“Oh, I have no such pretension, Mr. Burgomaster!” said the soldier hastily, fearing above all things to prejudice the judge against him:  “only, as the girls are in bed, and already much frightened, it would be a proof of your good heart to examine me where I am.”

“Humph!” said the magistrate, with ill-humor; “a pretty state of things, truly!—­It was much worth while to disturb me in the middle of the night.  But, come, so be it; I will examine you here.”  Then, turning to the landlord, he added:  “Put your lantern upon this bench, and leave us.”

The innkeeper obeyed, and went down, followed by his people, as dissatisfied as they were at being excluded from the examination.  The veteran was left alone with the magistrate.

CHAPTER XIII.

The judgement.

The worthy burgomaster of Mockern wore a cloth cap, and was enveloped in a cloak.  He sat down heavily on the bench.  He was a corpulent man, about sixty, with an arrogant, morose countenance; and he frequently rubbed with his red, fat fist, eyes that were still swollen and blood shot, from his having been suddenly roused from sleep.

Dagobert stood bareheaded before him, with a submissive, respectful air, holding his old foraging cap in his hands, and trying to read in the sullen physiognomy of his judge what chance there might be to interest him in his favor—­that is, in favor of the orphans.

In this critical juncture, the poor soldier summoned to his aid all his presence of mind, reason, eloquence and resolution.  He, who had twenty times braved death with the utmost coolness—­who, calm and serene, because sincere and tried, had never quailed before the eagle-glance of the Emperor, his hero and idol—­now felt himself disconcerted and trembling before the ill-humored face of a village burgomaster.  Even so, a few hours before, he had submitted, impassive and resigned, to the insults of the Prophet—­that he might not compromise the sacred mission with which a dying mother had entrusted him—­thus showing to what a height of heroic abnegation it is possible for a simple and honest heart to attain.

“What have you to say in your justification?  Come, be quick!” said the judge roughly, with a yawn of impatience.

“I have not got to justify myself—­I have to make a complaint, Mr. Burgomaster,” replied Dagobert in a firm voice.

“Do you think you are to teach me in what terms I am to put my questions?” exclaimed the magistrate, in so sharp a tone that the soldier reproached himself with having begun the interview so badly.  Wishing to pacify his judge, he made haste to answer with submission: 

“Pardon me, Mr. Burgomaster, I have ill-explained my meaning.  I only wished to say that I was not wrong in this affair.”

“The Prophet says the contrary.”

“The Prophet?” repeated the soldier, with an air of doubt.