I will not deign to be a common soldier, when such a man
as Stofflet is made an officer."
And he got up from the chair in which he had again seated himself, and
stalked out of the room.
"He has at any rate proved to us," said Bonchamps, "that I was wrong to
nominate him, and that you were right not to accept the nomination."
"I grieve that he should be vexed with me," said Stofflet; "but I did
not seek to put myself above him."
"Time and experience will make him wise," said de Lescure: "let us pity
his folly and forgive it."
The council was then broken up, and the different officers went each to
perform his own duties. When Denot left the room, Henri immediately
followed him.
"Adolphe," said he, as he overtook him in the market-place, "Adolphe,
indeed you are wrong, no one meant to show you any indignity."
"And have you also followed me to tell me I am wrong--of course I am
wrong--I am wrong because I will not submit, as you and Charles do, to
ignorant boors like Stofflet and Cathelineau, because--"
"Like Cathelineau! why, Adolphe, you are mad," said Henri, "why you
yourself voted that Cathelineau should be our General.
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