But with all respect to you as my commanding
officer, General, I say again that if ever I set eyes on that son
of Satan, I'll--
NAPOLEON (angrily). So you said before.
LIEUTENANT (drawing himself upright). I say it again. just wait
until I catch him. Just wait: that's all. (He folds his arms
resolutely, and breathes hard, with compressed lips.)
NAPOLEON. I AM waiting, sir--for your explanation.
LIEUTENANT (confidently). You'll change your tone, General, when
you hear what has happened to me.
NAPOLEON. Nothing has happened to you, sir: you are alive and not
disabled. Where are the papers entrusted to you?
LIEUTENANT. Nothing! Nothing!! Oho! Well, we'll see. (Posing
himself to overwhelm Napoleon with his news.) He swore eternal
brotherhood with me. Was that nothing? He said my eyes reminded
him of his sister's eyes. Was that nothing? He cried--actually
cried--over the story of my separation from Angelica. Was that
nothing? He paid for both bottles of wine, though he only ate
bread and grapes himself. Perhaps you call that nothing! He gave
me his pistols and his horse and his despatches--most important
despatches--and let me go away with them.
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