He paused a moment to make sure that the child was listening attentively. The boy did not lose a syllable. On the contrary, as if already preparing to transmit them to posterity, he was storing in his memory the words which fell from that strong mouth. Saint-Just continued: "Since the shameful panic of Eisemberg, I issued a decree which forbade any soldier or officer to go to bed without being fully clothed. Well, on my tour of inspection this morning I looked forward to meeting a friend from my own part of the country, coming, like me, from the department of the Aisne; like me, from Blérancourt; and, like me again, a pupil in the college of Soissons. His regiment arrived yesterday, in the village of Schiltigheim. I directed my course therefore toward the village, and asked in what house Prosper Lenormand was lodged. It was pointed out to me, and I hastened thither. His room was on the first floor, and, although I have great control over myself, my heart beat high, as I mounted the stairs, at the thought of seeing my friend again after five years of separation. I entered the first room, calling out: 'Prosper! Prosper! Where are you? It is your old chum, Saint-Just.' "I had no sooner spoken than the door opened, and a young man, clad only in his night-shirt, threw himself into my arms, crying: 'Saint-Just; my dear Saint-Just!' "I wept as I pressed him to my heart, for that heart was about to receive a terrible blow. "The friend of my childhood, whom I now saw for the first time after five years--he whom I had sought out myself, so eager was I to meet him again--he had violated the law which I had promulgated only three days before. He had incurred the death penalty. "Then my heart yielded before the power of my will, and, turning to those present, I said calmly: 'Heaven be doubly praised, since I have seen you again, and since I can give, in the person of one so dear to me, a memorable lesson of discipline and a grand example of justice by sacrificing you to the public safety.' "Then, speaking to those who accompanied me, I said: 'Do your duty.' "I then embraced Prosper for the last time, and at a sign from me they conducted him out of the room." "What for?" asked Charles. "To shoot him. Was he not forbidden, under penalty of death, to go to bed with his clothes off?" "But you pardoned him?" asked Charles, moved to tears. "Ten minutes later he was dead." Charles uttered a cry of terror. "Your heart is still weak, poor child; read Plutarch and you will become a man. And what are you doing in Strasbourg?" "I am studying, citizen," replied the child. "I have only been here three days." "And what are you studying in Strasbourg?" "Greek."