It almost came with the force and clearness of a battle-cry.

The Marquis sat stupefied, his face ghastly pale.
"There is yet time," he cried hoarsely at last.

"Is there none here faithful to his King?
Fire!" But the gun-barrels were coming down.

"_Comrade! General! Emperor!_" who could be indifferent to that appeal?
Disregarding the old Marquis absolutely, as if he were not on the earth, the Emperor came nearer smiling.

He was irresistible to these soldiers when he smiled.
"Well," he said, his hands outstretched and open, "soldiers of the Fifth, who were with me in Italy, how are you all?
I am come back to see you again, _mes enfants_," he went on genially.