"Mother, yesterday I enlisted as a substitute soldier in the Spahis," Albert continued, lowering his eyes with a hint of shame, though he was unconscious of how noble his self-sacrifice truly was. "I thought my body belonged to me and that I could sell it. Yesterday I took another man's place in the military. I sold myself for more than I thought I was worth," he added, attempting to smile. "I received two thousand francs."
"Then this thousand francs-" Mercédès said, shuddering.
"Is half the sum, Mother. The other half will be paid in a year."
Mercédès raised her eyes to heaven with an indescribable expression. The tears she'd been holding back finally yielded to her emotion and streamed down her cheeks.
"The price of his blood!" she murmured.
"Yes, if I'm killed," Albert said, laughing. "But I assure you, Mother, I have every intention of defending myself. I've never felt such a strong desire to live as I do now."
"Merciful heavens!"
