"I am Louis Vergniaud," he replied at once. "I have a few words to say
to you."

"So you are the man who has lodged Comte Chabert as I have found him?"

"Asking your pardon, sir, he has the best room. I would have given him
mine if I had had but one; I could have slept in the stable. A man who
has suffered as he has, who teaches my kids to read, a general, an
Egyptian, the first lieutenant I ever served under--What do you think?
--Of us all, he is best served. I shared what I had with him.
Unfortunately, it is not much to boast of--bread, milk, eggs. Well,
well; it's neighbors' fare, sir. And he is heartily welcome.--But he
has hurt our feelings."

"He?"

"Yes, sir, hurt our feelings. To be plain with you, I have taken a
larger business than I can manage, and he saw it. Well, it worried
him; he must needs mind the horse! I says to him, 'Really,
General----' 'Bah!' says he, 'I am not going to eat my head off doing
nothing. I learned to rub a horse down many a year ago.'--I had some
bills out for the purchase money of my dairy--a fellow named Grados
--Do you know him, sir?"

"But, my good man, I have not time to listen to your story. Only tell
me how the Colonel offended you."

"He hurt our feelings, sir, as sure as my name is Louis Vergniaud, and
my wife cried about it. He heard from our neighbors that we had not a
sou to begin to meet the bills with. The old soldier, as he is, he