The old sergeant's glance was full of fury, Parpon's of a devilish sort of glee.
Valmond approached the lads.
"My children," he said kindly, "you have not learned your lesson well enough.

You shall be taught." He took the paper caps from their heads.
"I will give you better caps than these." He took the hobby-horse, the drum, and the tin swords.

"I will give you better things than these." He put the caps on the ground, added the toys to the heap, and Parpon, stooping, lighted the paper.

Scattering money among the crowd, and giving some silver to the lads, Valmond stood looking at the bonfire for a moment, and then, pointing to it dramatically, said: "My friends, my brothers, Frenchmen, we will light larger fires than these.

Your young Seigneur sought to do me honour this afternoon.