"Beyond doubt," replied Eugene. Bonaparte rang and a sub-officer entered. "Accompany citizen Beauharnais to the rooms where they have put the arms belonging to the Sections," said Bonaparte. "You will allow him to take those which he will point out to you." And he held out his hand to the young man, the hand which was to lift him so high. Ignorant of the future, Eugene darted toward it and kissed it gratefully. "Ah, citizen!" said he, "my mother and sister shall know how good you have been to me, and, believe me, they will appreciate it as much as I do." Just then the door opened and Barras entered without being announced. "Ah!" said he, "here I am on ground with which I am doubly familiar!" "I have already told citizen Bonaparte how much we owe you," replied Eugene, "and I am happy to repeat before you, that without your protection the widow and children of General Beauharnais would probably have died of hunger." "Died of hunger!" said Bonaparte, laughing. "That is a death which only those officers whom Aubry has placed on the retired list need fear." "I was indeed wrong," said Eugene. "For while my mother was in prison, I worked with a carpenter where I earned my daily bread, and my sister was with a seamstress who supported her out of charity." "Well," said Barras, "the bad days are over and the good ones have returned. What has brought you here, my young friend?" Eugene told Barras the reason of his visit. "Why did you not come to me," asked Barras, "instead of disturbing my colleague?" "Because I wished to meet citizen-general Bonaparte," replied Eugene. "It seemed to me that it would be a good omen if he returned me my father's sword." And, bowing to the two generals, he went out with the officer, much less embarrassed than when he had come. CHAPTER XXV THE MAP OF MARENGO The two generals were left alone. Both had followed the young man with their eyes, each one inspired with different thoughts, until the door had closed upon him. "That boy has a heart of gold," said Barras. "Just think, when he was only thirteen years and a half old--I did not know him then--he went to Strasbourg alone in the hope of finding some papers there which would justify his father before the revolutionary tribunal. But the revolutionary tribunal was in a hurry. It cut off the father's head while it was waiting for the papers the son was collecting. It was time anyway for Eugene to return, for had it not been for Saint-Just, whom he met there, I do not know what might have happened to Eugene. He attacked Tétrell, one of the leaders, who was twice as big as he, in the midst of a play at the theatre. If the people, who had seen him during the day when he was fighting against the Prussians, had not taken his part boldly, the poor boy would have been badly singed."