A rich uniform, half French, half Oriental, set off his broad chest,
decorated with the order of the Legion of Honor, and his graceful and stalwart figure. The young officer bowed with easy politeness.
"Monsieur," said Albert, with affectionate courtesy, "M. le Corate de Chateau-Renaud knew how much pleasure this introduction would give me; you are his friend, be ours also."
"Well said!" interrupted Chateau-Renaud; "and pray that, if you should ever be in a similar predicament, he may do as much for you as he did for me."
"What has he done?" asked Albert.
"Oh! nothing worth speaking of," said Morrel; "M. de Chateau-Renaud exaggerates."
"Not worth speaking of?" cried Chateau-Renaud; "life is not worth speaking of! that is rather too philosophical, on my word, Morrel. It is very well for you, who risk your life every day; but for me, who only did so once"
"What is evident in all this, baron, is, that M. le Capitaine Morrel saved your life."
"Exactly so."
"On what occasion?" asked Beauchamp.
"Beauchamp, my good follow, you know I am starving," said Debray; "do not set him off on some long story."
"Well, I do not prevent your sitting down to table," replied Beau-champ; "Chateau-Renaud can tell us whilst we eat our breakfast."
"Gentlemen," said Morcerf, "it is only a quarter-past ten, and I expect some one else."
"Ah, true! a diplomatist!" observed Debray.
"I know not whether he be or not: I only know that I gave him a mission which he terminated so entirely to my satisfaction, that had I been king, I should have instantly created him knight of all my orders, even had I been able to offer him the Golden Fleece and the Garter."
"Well, since we are not to sit down to table," said Debray, "take a glass of sherry, and tell us all about it."
"You all know that I had the fancy of going to Africa."
"It is a road your ancestors have traced for you," said Albert gallantly.
"Yes, but I doubt that your object was like theirs to rescue the Holy Sepulcher."
"You are quite right, Beauchamp," observed the young aristocrat. "It was only to fight as an amateur. I cannot bear dueling ever since two seconds, whom I had chosen to accommodate a quarrel, forced me to break the arm of one of my best friends, one whom you all know poor Franz d'Epinay."
