But it exasperated the higher strung
nature of Colonel Feraud. Passing through Magdeburg on service,
this last allowed himself, while seated gloomily at dinner with the
Commandant de Place, to say of his life-long adversary: "This man does
not love the Emperor," and his words were received by the other guests
in profound silence. Colonel Feraud, troubled in his conscience at
the atrocity of the aspersion, felt the need to back it up by a good
argument. "I ought to know him," he cried, adding some oaths. "One
studies one's adversary. I have met him on the ground half a dozen
times, as all the army knows. What more do you want? If that isn't
opportunity enough for any fool to size up his man, may the devil take
me if I can tell what is." And he looked around the table, obstinate and
sombre.
Later on in Paris, while extremely busy reorganizing his regiment,
Colonel Feraud learned that Colonel D'Hubert had been made a general. He
glared at his informant incredulously, then folded his arms and turned
away muttering, "Nothing surprises me on the part of that man.
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