44 “STORIES FROM DAUDET

to fight too, for his legs were healed.
Behold him gone, his drum on his back,
off to look for his company. He did
not seek long. Some Federals who were
passing brought him into the Square.
After a long interrogation, as nothing
could be extracted from him but dono
bezif, macacho bono, the general for the
day ended by giving him ten francs
and an omnibus horse, and attaching
him to his staff.

There was a little of everything in
those staffs of the Commune, red shirts,
Polish dolmans, Hungarian doublets,
sailors’ pea-jackets, and there was
bravery of gold, velvet, spangles, and
gold lace. With his blue vest broidered
with yellow, his turban, his derbouka,
the little Turco came to complete the
masquerade. Full of delight to find
himself in such fine company, giddy
with the sunlight, the cannonading, the
bustle in the streets, the medley of
arms and uniforms, persuaded, besides,
that it was still the war with Prussia