D'Autachamps and the Prince de Talmont were there also; men, who
throughout the war had lent every energy to its furtherance. At another
time, and under other circumstances, they might have expressed
indignation at being called on to serve under a man so much their
junior; but de Lescure's position checked, not only the expression of
any such feeling, but the feeling itself. They could not differ from a
man who had lost so much in the cause, and vas now sealing his devotion
with his life. There were five or six others in the room; officers who
were now well known in the army, whose courage history has not forgotten
to record, but whose names are unnecessary to our tale.
"Gentlemen," said de Lescure to them, as soon as he saw them seated
round his bed, and had contrived to get himself so propped up with
pillows as to be able to address them, "you all know why I have wished
to see you here; you all know the paramount importance of that duty
which requires us to provide, as far as may be possible, for the
security of the unfortunate peasants who have followed us with such
courage, who have shown so much generous loyalty, so much true
patriotism.
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