Instantly his hand went to his cap.
"My General!" he said, and stepped in front of the white horse.

There was a moment's pause, and then the sergeant's arms were raised, and down came the sticks with a rolling rattle on the leather.

They sent a shiver of feeling through the village, and turned the meek white horse into a charger of war.

No man laughed at the drama performed in Pontiac that day, not even the little coterie who were present, not even Monsieur De la Riviere, whose brow was black with hatred, for he had watched 'the eyes of Madame Chalice fill with tears at the old sergeant's tale of Auerstadt, had noticed her admiring glance, "at this damned comedian," as he now called Valmond.

When he came to her carriage, she said, with oblique suggestion: "What do you think of it ?" "Impostor! fakir!" was his sulky reply.