‘You must not quarrel with blows, my dear Prince,’ said he; ’they are your title to nobility.’  He spoke in that soft, caressing manner which he could assume.  There was no one who could make the French tongue sound so pretty as the Emperor, and no one who could make it more harsh and terrible.

‘I believe he would have killed me,’ cried Berthier, still rolling his head about.

’Tut, tut!  I should have come to your help had these officers not heard your cries.  But I trust that you are not really hurt!’ He spoke with earnestness, for he was in truth very fond of Berthier—­more so than of any man, unless it were of poor Duroc.

Berthier laughed, though not with a very good grace.

‘It is new for me to receive my injuries from French hands,’ said he.

‘And yet it was in the cause of France,’ returned the Emperor.  Then, turning to us, he took old Tremeau by the ear.  ‘Ah, old grumbler,’ said he, ’you were one of my Egyptian grenadiers, were you not, and had your musket of honour at Marengo.  I remember you very well, my good friend.  So the old fires are not yet extinguished!  They still burn up when you think that your Emperor is wronged.  And you, Colonel Despienne, you would not even listen to the tempter.  And you, Gerard, your faithful sword is ever to be between me and my enemies.  Well, well, I have had some traitors about me, but now at last we are beginning to see who are the true men.’

You can fancy, my friends, the thrill of joy which it gave us when the greatest man in the whole world spoke to us in this fashion.  Tremeau shook until I thought he would have fallen, and the tears ran down his gigantic moustache.  If you had not seen it, you could never believe the influence which the Emperor had upon those coarse-grained, savage old veterans.

‘Well, my faithful friends,’ said he, ’if you will follow me into this room, I will explain to you the meaning of this little farce which we have been acting.  I beg, Berthier, that you will remain in this chamber, and so make sure that no one interrupts us.’

It was new for us to be doing business, with a Marshal of France as sentry at the door.  However, we followed the Emperor as we were ordered, and he led us into the recess of the window, gathering us around him and sinking his voice as he addressed us.

‘I have picked you out of the whole army,’ said he, ’as being not only the most formidable but also the most faithful of my soldiers.  I was convinced that you were all three men who would never waver in your fidelity to me.  If I have ventured to put that fidelity to the proof, and to watch you while attempts were at my orders made upon your honour, it was only because, in the days when I have found the blackest treason amongst my own flesh and blood, it is necessary that I should be doubly circumspect.  Suffice it that I am well convinced now that I can rely upon your valour.’

‘To the death, sire!’ cried Tremeau, and we both repeated it after him.