CHAPTER FIFTEEN.
A TROUBLE OVER POCKET MONEY.
It was the twelfth of June in the year 1785 that a group of scholars was standing, during the recess hour, in a corner of the military school of Paris.
They were all boys; but they assumed the manners and gave themselves the airs of princes of the blood.
"Gentlemen," said one who seemed to be most prominent in the group, "I have called you together on a most important matter.

Tomorrow is old Bauer's birthday.

I propose that, as is our custom, we take some notice of it.

What do you say to giving him a little supper, in the name of the school ?" "A good idea; a capital idea, d'Hebonville!" exclaimed most of the boys, in ready acquiescence.
"A gluttonous idea, I call it; and an expensive one," said one upon the outer edge of the circle, in a sharply critical tone.

"Ah.