A fortnight later Major Laguitte came one evening to invite himself to
dinner. He felt some awkwardness at the prospect of meeting Burle
again, not on his own account but because he dreaded awakening painful
memories. However, as the captain was mending his ways he wished to
shake hands and break a crust with him. He thought this would please his
old friend.
When Laguitte arrived Burle was in his room, so it was the old lady who
received the major. The latter, after announcing that he had come to
have a plate of soup with them, added, lowering his voice:
"Well, how goes it?"
"It is all right," answered the old lady.
"Nothing queer?"
"Absolutely nothing. Never away--in bed at nine--and looking quite
happy."
"Ah, confound it," replied the major, "I knew very well he only wanted a
shaking. He has some heart left, the dog!"
When Burle appeared he almost crushed the major's hands in his grasp,
and standing before the fire, waiting for the dinner, they conversed
peacefully, honestly, together, extolling the charms of home life. The
captain vowed he wouldn't exchange his home for a kingdom and declared
that when he had removed his braces, put on his slippers and settled
himself in his armchair, no king was fit to hold a candle to him.
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