下载辰思小说免费APP
Bridau’shandwasgraspedbyMignonnet，Carpentier，andseveralothers。Thiswelcome，sodifferentfromthataccordedtoMax，dispelledthelastfeelingofcowardice，or，ifyoupreferit，wisdom，whichFlore’sentreaties，andaboveall，hertendernesses，hadawakenedinthelatter’smind。
“Weshallfight，“hesaidtoRenard，“andtothedeath。Thereforedon’ttalktomeanymore；letmeplaymypartwell。“
Afterthesewords，spokeninafeverishtone，thethreeBonapartistsreturnedtothegroupofofficersandmixedamongthem。MaxbowedfirsttoBridau，whoreturnedhisbow，andthetwoexchangedafrigidglance。
“Come，gentlemen，letustakeourseats，“saidPotel。
“AnddrinktothehealthoftheLittleCorporal，whoisnowintheparadiseofheroes，“criedRenard。
Thecompanypouredintothelong，lowdining-halloftherestaurantLacroix，thewindowsofwhichopenedonthemarket-place。Eachguesttookhisseatatthetable，where，incompliancewithPhilippe’srequest，thetwoadversarieswereplaceddirectlyoppositetoeachother。Someyoungmenofthetown，amongthemseveralKnightsofIdleness，anxioustoknowwhatmighthappenatthebanquet，werewalkingaboutthestreetanddiscussingthecriticalpositionintowhichPhilippehadcontrivedtoforceMax。Theyalldeploredthecrisis，thougheachconsideredthedueltobeinevitable。
Everythingwentoffwelluntilthedessert，thoughthetwoantagonistsdisplayed，inspiteoftheapparentjovialityofthedinner，acertainvigilancethatresembleddisquietude。Whilewaitingforthequarrelthatbothwereplanning，Philippeshowedadmirablecoolness，andMaxadistractinggayety；buttoanobserver，eachwasplayingapart。
WhenthedesertwasservedPhilipperoseandsaid:“Fillyourglasses，myfriends！Iaskpermissiontoproposethefirsttoast。“
“HesaidMYFRIENDS，don’tfillyourglass，“whisperedRenardtoMax。
Maxpouredoutsomewine。
“TotheGrandArmy！“criedPhilippe，withgenuineenthusiasm。
“TotheGrandArmy！“wasrepeatedwithacclamationbyeveryvoice。
Atthismomentelevenprivatesoldiers，amongwhomwereBenjaminandKouski，appearedatthedooroftheroomandrepeatedthetoast，——
“TotheGrandArmy！“
“Comein，mysons；wearegoingtodrinkHishealth。“
Theoldsoldierscameinandstoodbehindtheofficers。
“YouseeHeisnotdead！“saidKouskitoanoldsergeant，whohadperhapsbeengrievingthattheEmperor’sagonywasover。
“Iclaimthesecondtoast，“saidMignonnet，asherose。“Letusdrinktothosewhoattemptedtorestorehisson！“
Everyonepresent，exceptMaxenceGilet，bowedtoPhilippeBridau，andstretchedtheirglassestowardshim。
“Oneword，“saidMax，rising。
“ItisMax！itisMax！“criedvoicesoutside；andthenadeepsilencereignedintheroomandinthe
