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eligible。 Of the others； who will volunteer？〃
I need not say that all the unmarried officers stepped to the front。 The
colonel looked round in some embarrassment。
I could see his dilemma。 It was the best man who should go； and yet
it was the best man whom he could least spare。
〃Sir；〃 said I； 〃may I be permitted to make a suggestion？〃
He looked at me with a hard eye。 He had not forgotten my
observations at supper。 〃Speak！〃 said he。
〃I would point out； sir；〃 said I； 〃that this mission is mine both by right
and by convenience。〃
〃Why so； Captain Gerard？〃
〃By right because I am the senior captain。 By convenience because I
shall not be missed in the regiments since the men have not yet learned to
know me。〃
The colonel's features relaxed。
〃There is certainly truth in what you say； Captain Gerard；〃 said he。 〃I
think that you are indeed best fitted to go upon this mission。 If you will
come with me I will give you your instructions。〃
I wished my new comrades good…night as I left the room； and I
repeated that I should hold myself at their disposal at five o'clock next
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morning。 They bowed in silence； and I thought that I could see from the
expression of their faces that they had already begun to take a more just
view of my character。
I had expected that the colonel would at once inform me what it was
that I had been chosen to do； but instead of that he walked on in silence； I
following behind him。
We passed through the camp and made our way across the trenches
and over the ruined heaps of stones which marked the old wall of the town。
Within； there was a labyrinth of passages formed among the debris of the
houses which had been destroyed by the mines of the engineers。 Acres
and acres were covered with splintered walls and piles of brick which had
once been a populous suburb。 Lanes had been driven through it and
lanterns placed at the corners with inscriptions to direct the wayfarer。
The colonel hurried onward until at last； after a long walk； we found our
way barred by a high grey wall which stretched right across our path。
Here behind a barricade lay our advance guard。 The colonel led me
into a roofless house； and there I found two general officers； a map
stretched over a drum in front of them； they kneeling beside it and
examining it carefully by the light of a lantern。 The one with the clean…
shaven face and the twisted neck was Marshal Lannes； the other was
General Razout； the head of the engineers。
〃Captain Gerard has volunteered to go；〃 said the colonel。
Marshal Lannes rose from his knees and shook me by the hand。
〃You are a brave man； sir；〃 said he。 〃I have a present to make to
you；〃 he added； handing me a very tiny glass tube。 〃It has been specially
prepared by Dr。 Fardet。 At the supreme moment you have but to put it to
your lips and you will be dead in an instant。〃
This was a cheerful beginning。 I will confess to you； my friends； that
a cold chill passed up my back and my hair rose upon my head。
〃Excuse me； sir；〃 said I； as I saluted； 〃I am aware that I have
volunteered for a service of great danger； but the exact details have not yet
been given to me。〃
〃Colonel Perrin；〃 said Lannes； severely； 〃it is unfair to allow this brave
officer to volunteer before he has learned what the perils are to which he
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will be exposed。〃
But already I was myself once more。
〃Sir；〃 said I； 〃permit me to remark that the greater the danger the
greater the glory； and that I could only repent of volunteering if I found
that there were no risks to be run。〃
It was a noble speech； and my appearance gave force to my words。
For the moment I was a heroic figure。
As I saw Lannes's eyes fixed in admiration upon my face it thrilled me
to think how splendid was the debut which I was making in the army of
Spain。 If I died that night my name would not be forgotten。 My new
comrades and my old； divided in all else； would still have a point of union
in their love and admiration of Etienne Gerard。
〃General Razout； explain the situation！〃 said Lannes； briefly。
The engineer officer rose； his compasses in his hand。
He led me to the door and pointed to the high grey wall which towered
up amongst the debris of the shattered houses。
〃That is the enemy's present line of defence；〃 said he。 〃It is the wall
of the great Convent of the Madonna。 If we can carry it the city must fall；
but they have run countermines all round it； and the walls are so
enormously thick that it would be an immense labour to breach it with
artillery。 We happen to know； however； that the enemy have a
considerable store of powder in one of the lower chambers。 If that could
be exploded the way would be clear for us。〃
〃How can it be reached？〃 I asked。
〃I will explain。 We have a French agent within the town named
Hubert。 This brave man has been in constant communication with us；
and he had promised to explode the magazine。 It was to be done in the
early morning； and for two days running we have had a storming party of
a thousand Grenadiers waiting for the breach to be formed。 But there has
been no explosion； and for these two days we have had no communication
from Hubert。
The question is； what has become of him？〃
〃You wish me to go and see？〃
〃Precisely。 Is he ill； or wounded； or dead？ Shall we still wait for
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him； or shall we attempt the attack elsewhere？
We cannot determine this until we have heard from him。 This is a
map of the town； Captain Gerard。
You perceive that within this ring of convents and monasteries are a
number of streets which branch off from a central square。 If you come so
far as this square you will find the cathedral at one corner