human
You have a magnificent drum-major there, said Morgan;
gpt
I congratulate you upon him.
human
That is not our drum-major, he said,
gpt
Ah! the devil! He is the man who might have taken Toulon, and who, instead, allowed it to be captured by a little artillery officer named--what was his name, anyhow?--named Bonaparte, I believe. Ah! introduce me to this worthy officer; I adore handsome men and particularly handsome uniforms.
human
Willingly,
gpt
General, said Garat to the colossus in uniform,
human
I have the honor to present to you the citizen-president of the Section Le Peletier, who has not only courteously made way for me through his men, but who has accompanied me thus far lest any mishap should befall me.
gpt
Citizen, said Cartaux, drawing himself up in order not to lose an inch of his height,
human
I join with citizen-conventional Garat in thanking you.
gpt
There is no necessity to do so, general, said Morgan, with his accustomed courtesy.
human
I saw you from a distance and wished to make your acquaintance. Besides, I wished to ask you whether you did not think it would be well for you to yield me this post, as you did the other, without bloodshed.
gpt
Is that a jest or a proposition?
human
It is a proposition, said Morgan,
gpt
It seems to me that you are too much of a soldier, citizen, said Cartaux,
human
But why do you not open fire, general? asked the president, carelessly.
gpt
There is a fine range for cannon between the garden of the Infanta and the Pont-Neuf--scarcely a hundred feet.
human
The general, wishing to place all responsibility of bloodshed upon the Sectionists, has forbidden us to open fire.
gpt
What general? Barras?
human
No. General Bonaparte.
gpt
Why, is that your little officer of Toulon? So he has made his way up until now he is a general like you.
human
More of a general than I am, replied Cartaux,
gpt
How disagreeable that must be for you, citizen, and what a piece of injustice! You who are six feet tall to have to obey a young man of twenty-four, who, they say, is only five feet one.
human
Do you know him?
gpt
No, I have not the honor.
human
Well, open fire, and this evening--
gpt
This evening?
human
This evening you will know him, I promise you.