his old soldiers, and the liberties which he would allow them to take with him.  It was no uncommon thing for a shower of chaff to come from the ranks directed at their own commanding officers, and I am sorry to say, also, that it was no very unusual thing for a shower of bullets to come also.  Unpopular officers were continually assassinated by their own men; at the battle of Montebello it is well known that every officer, with the exception of one lieutenant belonging to the 24th demi-brigade, was shot down from behind.  But this was a relic of the bad times, and, as the Emperor gained more complete control, a better feeling was established.  The history of our army at that time proved, at any rate, that the highest efficiency could be maintained without the flogging which was still used in the Prussian and the English service, and it was shown, for the first time, that great bodies of men could be induced to act from a sense of duty and a love of country, without hope of reward or fear of punishment.  When a French general could suffer his division to straggle as they would over the face of the country, with the certainty that they would concentrate upon the day of battle, he proved that he had soldiers who were worthy of his trust.

One thing had struck me as curious about these hussars—­that they pronounced French with the utmost difficulty.  I remarked it to the lieutenant as he rode by my side, and I asked him from what foreign country his men were recruited, since I could perceive that they were not Frenchmen.

‘My faith, you must not let them hear you say so,’ said he, ’for they would answer you as like as not by a thrust from their sabres.  We are the premier regiment of the French cavalry, the First Hussars of Bercheny, and, though it is true that our men are all recruited in Alsace, and few of them can speak anything but German, they are as good Frenchmen as Kleber or Kellermann, who came from the same parts.  Our men are all picked, and our officers,’ he added, pulling at his light moustache, ‘are the finest in the service.’

The swaggering vanity of the fellow amused me, for he cocked his busby, swung the blue dolman which hung from his shoulder, sat his horse, and clattered his scabbard in a manner which told of his boyish delight and pride in himself and his regiment.  As I looked at his lithe figure and his fearless bearing, I could quite imagine that he did himself no more than justice, while his frank smile and his merry blue eyes assured me that he would prove a good comrade.  He had himself been taking observations of me, for he suddenly placed his hand upon my knee as we rode side by side.

‘I trust that the Emperor is not displeased with you,’ said he, with a very grave face.

‘I cannot think that he can be so,’ I answered, ’for I have come from England to put my services at his disposal.’

’When the report was presented last night, and he heard of your presence in that den of thieves, he was very anxious that you should be brought to him.  Perhaps it is that he wishes you to be guide to us in England.  No doubt you know your way all over the island.’