The stupid thing on our parts was not to think of it sooner.

But who the Devil would have thought of the retired list in the presence of such a fellow as you are ?" The two colonels avowed that such an objection would never have entered their heads; now that it had been suggested, however, they could not see what to rebut it with.

Neither of them would have been able to enlist Fougas as a private soldier, despite his ability, his physical strength and his appearance of being twenty-four years old.
"If some one would only kill me!" cried Fougas.

"I can't set myself to weighing sugar or planting cabbages.

It was in the career of arms that I took my first steps; I must continue in it or die.