"This makes the General quite mad, and he gives me fifteen days' prison. Yes, old chap, fifteen days' prison, when I'd done nothing. It fairly turned my blood, and I went away hardly knowing what I was doing. I passed a pub and went in. I called for absinthe and brandy and the Lord knows what else. The more I drunk the more I wanted, and I was that mad that when two Hussars walked into the pub I sprang on them, and if others hadn't come to their rescue 'twould have been a case of murder, I think. They had to tie me up, and by Gad it took eight of them to do it. To my first punishment, fifteen days' prison, and fifteen days' solitary confinement in cells, were added, and when, two days later, the manoeuvres ended, I was marched back to barracks--a prisoner. Of course any question of promotion was at an end--to think of it after I had worked so hard to become a Corporal! When I came out of prison I no longer cared a b---- d---- what happened to me. I drank whenever I had money, and if I hadn't, Decle, my boy, I would have shot myself. How I have got through these last three years I don't know. They threatened more than once to send me to Biribi. What did I care? If it hadn't been for our late Colonel--he understood me, that man--I should have done something desperate; but since he is dead--ah, _malheur_! The new Colonel calls me a disgrace to the regiment, and a disgrace to the French army: but what do I care? But then when a chap like our doctor doesn't feel ashamed to hold out his hand to me--well, my boy, it goes to my heart. You, too, old Decle, although we are both mere troopers, you are a gentleman, while I am but a labourer and a low blackguardly drunkard; and yet you treat me as a friend. Give me your hand, old boy." I gave it to him, and he pressed it between his two enormous palms, and then, in a husky voice, he added, "Ah! it's long since I have felt so happy," and with the back of his hand he wiped off a tear. "Forgive me, old chap," he said, "I know I'm making a fool of myself!" For answer I could only squeeze his hand, and I turned round to hide a tear of my own--a tear of pity for the poor fellow whose feelings I could now understand so well.