your general has devoted the influence which his genius gives
him over France as Monk did--that is to say, to reinstate his
legitimate sovereign upon the throne."

"Ah!" cried Roland, with a smile, "that is asking too much of
a republican general."

"Then I maintain what I said," replied the young noble. "Fire!
monsieur, fire!" Then as Roland made no haste to obey this
injunction, he shouted, stamping his foot: "Heavens and earth!
will you fire?"

At these words Roland made a movement as if he intended to fire
in the air.

"Ah!" exclaimed M. de Barjols. Then with a rapidity of gesture
and speech that prevented this, "Do not fire in the air, I beg,
or I shall insist that we begin again and that you fire first."

"On my honor!" cried Roland, turning as pale as if the blood
had left his body, "this is the first time I have done so much
for any man. Go to the devil! and if you don't want to live,
then die!"

At the same time he lowered his arm and fired, without troubling
to take aim.

Alfred de Barjols put his hand to his breast, swayed back and
forth, turned around and fell face down upon the ground. Roland's
bullet had gone through his heart.