On the day before that fixed for the inspection he was, as usual, on his
way to the colonel's quarters when he paused, startled, to see Mme Burle
(who was taking Charles to school) a few paces ahead of him. He had not
met her since the scene at the Cafe de Paris, for she had remained in
seclusion at home. Unmanned at thus meeting her, he stepped down to
leave the whole sidewalk free. Neither he nor the old lady bowed, and
the little boy lifted his large inquisitive eyes in mute surprise. Mme
Burle, cold and erect, brushed past the major without the least sign of
emotion or recognition. When she had passed he looked after her with an
expression of stupefied compassion.
"Confound it, I am no longer a man," he growled, dashing away a tear.
When he arrived at the colonel's quarters a captain in attendance
greeted him with the words: "It's all right at last. The papers have
come."
"Ah!" murmured Laguitte, growing very pale.
And again he beheld the old lady walking on, relentlessly rigid and
holding the little boy's hand. What! He had longed so eagerly for those
papers for eight days past, and now when the scraps had come he felt his
brain on fire and his heart lacerated.
The duel took place on the morrow, in the barrack yard behind a low
wall.
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