He was terrified to a mortal anguish, and had not a thought of resisting or disobeying her; he knew the fame of Cigarette--as who did not?
Knew that she would fire at a man as carelessly as at a cat,--more carelessly, in truth,--for she favored cats; saving many from going to the Zouaves' soup-caldrons, and favored civilians not at all; and knew that at her rallying cry all the sabers about the town would be drawn without a second's deliberation, and sheathed in anything or anybody that had offended her, for Cigarette was, in her fashion, Generalissima of all the Regiments of Africa.
The dealer ran with all the speed of terror, and overtook Cecil, who was going slowly onward to the barracks.
"Are you serious ?" he asked in surprise at the large amount, as the little Jew panted out apologies, entreaties, and protestations of his only having been in jest, and of his fervently desiring to buy the carvings at his own price, as he knew of a great collector in Paris to whom he needed to send them.
"Serious! Indeed am I serious, M.le Caporal," pleaded the curiosity-trader, turning his head in agonized fear to see if the vivandiere's pistol was behind him.

"The things will be worth a great deal to me where I shall send them, and though they are but bagatelles, what is Paris itself but one bagatelle?
Pouf! They are all children there--they will love the toys.

Take the money, I pray you; take the money!" Cecil looked at him a moment; he saw the man was in earnest, and thought but little of his repentance and trepidation, for the citizens were all afraid of slighting or annoying a soldier.
"So be it.

Thank you," he said, as he stretched out his hand and took the coins, not without a keen pang of the old pride that would not be wholly stilled, yet gladly for sake of the Chasseur dying yonder, growing delirious and retching the blood off his lungs in want of one touch of the ice, that was spoiled by the ton weight, to keep cool the wines and the fish of M.le Marquis de Chateauroy.

And he went onward to spend the gold his sculpture had brought on some yellow figs and some cool golden grapes, and some ice-chilled wines that should soothe a little of the pangs of dissolution to his comrade.
"You did it?
That is well.