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surprised to see Dagobert close the door of the chamber； as though he
wished to forbid his entrance。 〃Why do you shut that door？〃 asked he in
an abrupt tone。
〃First； because two girls； whom I have the charge of； are in bed in that
room； secondly； because your examination would alarm them；〃 replied
Dagobert。 〃Sit down upon this bench； Mr。 Burgomaster； and examine me
here； it will not make any difference； I should think。〃
〃And by what right；〃 asked the judge； with a displeased air； 〃do you
pretend to dictate to me the place of your examination？〃
〃Oh； I have no such pretension； Mr。 Burgomaster！〃 said the soldier
hastily； fearing above all things to prejudice the judge against him：
〃only； as the girls are in bed； and already much frightened； it would be
a proof of your good heart to examine me where I am。〃
〃Humph！〃 said the magistrate； with ill…humor； 〃a pretty state of things；
truly！It was much worth while to disturb me in the middle of the night。
But； come； so be it； I will examine you here。〃 Then； turning to the
landlord； he added： 〃Put your lantern upon this bench； and leave us。〃
The innkeeper obeyed； and went down； followed by his people； as
dissatisfied as they were at being excluded from the examination。 The
veteran was left alone with the magistrate。
CHAPTER XIII。
THE JUDGEMENT。
The worthy burgomaster of Mockern wore a cloth cap； and was enveloped in
a cloak。 He sat down heavily on the bench。 He was a corpulent man；
about sixty； with an arrogant； morose countenance； and he frequently
rubbed with his red； fat fist； eyes that were still swollen and blood…
shot； from his having been suddenly roused from sleep。
Dagobert stood bareheaded before him； with a submissive； respectful air；
holding his old foraging cap in his hands； and trying to read in the
sullen physiognomy of his judge what chance there might be to interest
him in his favorthat is； in favor of the orphans。
In this critical juncture； the poor soldier summoned to his aid all his
presence of mind； reason； eloquence and resolution。 He； who had twenty
times braved death with the utmost coolnesswho； calm and serene；
because sincere and tried； had never quailed before the eagle…glance of
the Emperor； his hero and idolnow felt himself disconcerted and
trembling before the ill…humored face of a village burgomaster。 Even so；
a few hours before； he had submitted； impassive and resigned； to the
insults of the Prophetthat he might not compromise the sacred mission
with which a dying mother had entrusted himthus showing to what a
height of heroic abnegation it is possible for a simple and honest heart
to attain。
〃What have you to say in your justification？ Come； be quick！〃 said the
judge roughly； with a yawn of impatience。
〃I have not got to justify myselfI have to make a complaint； Mr。
Burgomaster；〃 replied Dagobert in a firm voice。
〃Do you think you are to teach me in what terms I am to put my
questions？〃 exclaimed the magistrate； in so sharp a tone that the soldier
reproached himself with having begun the interview so badly。 Wishing to
pacify his judge； he made haste to answer with submission：
〃Pardon me； Mr。 Burgomaster； I have ill…explained my meaning。 I only
wished to say that I was not wrong in this affair。〃
〃The Prophet says the contrary。〃
〃The Prophet？〃 repeated the soldier； with an air of doubt。
〃The Prophet is a pious and honest man；〃 resumed the judge； 〃incapable of
falsehood。〃
〃I cannot say anything upon that subject； but you are too just； and have
too good a heart； Mr。 Burgomaster； to condemn without hearing me。 It is
not a man like you that would do an injustice； oh； one can see that at a
glance！〃
In resigning himself thus to play the part of a courtier； Dagobert
softened as much as possible his gruff voice； and strove to give to his
austere countenance a smiling； agreeable； and flattering expression。 〃A
man like you；〃 he added； with redoubled suavity of manner； 〃a respectable
judge like you； never shuts his ears to one side or the other。〃
〃Ears are not in question； but eyes； and； though mine smart as if I had
rubbed them with nettles； I have seen the hand of the brute…tamer； with a
frightful wound on it。〃
〃Yes； Mr。 Burgomaster； it is very true； but consider； if he had shut his
cages and his door； all this would not have happened。〃
〃Not so； it is your fault。 You should have fastened your horse securely
to the manger。〃
〃You are right； Mr。 Burgomaster； certainly； you are right；〃 said the
soldier； in a still more affable and conciliating voice。 〃It is not for
a poor devil like me to contradict you。 But supposing my horse was let
loose out of pure malice； in order that he might stray into the
menagerieyou will then acknowledge that it was not my fault。 That is；
you will acknowledge it if you think fit；〃 hastily added the soldier 〃I
have no right to dictate to you in anything。〃
〃And why the devil should any one do you this ill…turn？〃
〃I do not know； Mr。 Burgomasterbut〃
〃You do not knowwell； nor I either；〃 said the burgomaster impatiently。
〃Zounds！ what a many words about the carcass of an old horse！〃
The countenance of the soldier； losing on a sudden its expression of
forced suavity； became once more severe； he answered in a grave voice；
full of emotion： 〃My horse is deadhe is no more than a carcassthat is
true； but an hour ago； though very old； he was full of life and
intelligence。 He neighed joyously at my voiceand； every evening； he
licked the hands of the two poor children； whom he had carried all the
dayas formerly he had carried their mother。 Now he will never carry
any one again； they will throw him to the dogs； and all will be finished。
You need not have reminded me harshly of it； Mr。 Burgomasterfor I loved
my horse！〃
By these words； pronounced with noble and touching simplicity； the
burgomaster was moved in spite of himself； and regretted his hasty
speech。 〃It is natural that you should be sorry for your horse；〃 said
he； in a less impatient tone； 〃but what is to be done？It is a
misfortune。〃
〃A misfortune？Yes； Mr。 Burgomaster； a very great misfortune。 The
girls； who accompany me； were too weak to undertake a long journey on
foot； too poor to travel in a carriageand yet we have to arrive in
Paris before the month of February。 When their mother died； I promised
her to take them to France； for these children have only me to take care
of them。〃
〃You are then their〃
〃I am their faithful servant； Mr。 Burgomaster； and now that my horse has
been killed； what can I do for them？ Come； you are good； you have
perhaps children of your own； if； one day； they should find themselves in
the position of my two little orphanswith no wealth； no resources in
the world； but an old soldier who loves them； and an old horse to carry
them alongif； after being very unfortunate from their birthyes； very
unfortunate； for my orphans are the daughters of exilesthey should see
happiness before them at the end of a journey； and then； by the death of
their horse； that journey become impossibletell me； Mr。 Burgomaster； if
this would not touch your heart？ Would you not find； as I do； that the
lo