human
Do you bring us good news, my dear Roland?
gpt
Yes, general; since I come to announce to you the presence of the enemy,
human
Faith! said Junot,
gpt
As soon as you please, general, since they are not more than fifteen or eighteen miles from here.
human
Do you know what they answer when you tell them that they are beautiful? 'The Virgin Mary wills it so.' This is really the first time since we came to Syria that I have seen really beautiful women. Have you seen them--the enemy, I mean?
gpt
With my own eyes, general.
human
Where were they coming from? Where are they going? What do they want of us?
gpt
They are coming from Damascus, and I presume they want to defeat us. They are going to Saint-Jean-d'Acre, if I am not mistaken, to raise the siege.
human
Only that? Oh, we will cut them off! Are you going to stay with us, or return to Bonaparte?
gpt
I shall stay with you, general. I have a great longing to try a turn with the rascals. We are dying of boredom at the siege. Except for the two or three sorties which Djezzar has had the stupidity to make we have had nothing to vary the monotony.
human
Well, said Junot,
gpt
I can promise you that you will find some variety by to-morrow. By the way, I forgot to ask you how many there were?
human
Ah, general, I will reply to you as an Arab would. As well try to count the sands of the sea! There must be at least twenty-five or thirty thousand of them.
gpt
The devil! he said,
human
How many have you?
gpt
Just a hundred men more than the three hundred Spartans. But we can do what they did, and that will not be so bad. However, to-morrow morning will be time enough to think of all that. Would you like to see the curiosities of the town, or would you like some supper?
human
Well, said Roland,
gpt
If you will give me the pleasure of supping with me we will try to appease your appetite. As for your thirst, you will never find a better opportunity to quench it. Then, addressing a young girl, he said in Arabic:
human
Water! Thy brother is thirsty.