han thou thinkest,' said I, maddened by
the imputed theft and insolence together.

'And where may that be, young slip of the galleys?' cried she angrily.

'In the "Prison du Temple."'

'Is that their livery, then?' said she, laughing and pointing at me with
ridicule, 'or is it a family dress made after thy father's?'

'My father wore a soldier's coat, and bravely, too,' said I, with
difficulty restraining the tears that rose to my eyes.

'In what regiment, boy?' asked the soldier who spoke before.

'In one that exists no longer,' said I sadly, and not wishing to allude
to a service that would find but slight favour in republican ears.

'That must be the 24th of the Line; they were cut to pieces at
"Tongres."'

'No--no, he 's thinking of the 9th, that got so roughly handled at
Fontenoy,' said another.

'Of neither,' said I; 'I am speaking of those who have left nothing but
a name behind them--the Garde du Corps of the king.'

'_Voila!_ cried Madou, clapping her hands in astonishment at my
impertinence; 'there's an aristocrat for you! Look at him, _mes braves!_
it's not every day we have the grand seigneurs condescending to come
amongst us! You can learn something of courtly manners from the polished
descendant of our nobility. Say, boy, art a count, or a baron, or
perhaps a duke?'

'Make way there--out of the road, Mere Madou,' cried a dragoon,
curveting his horse in such a fashion as almost to upset ass and
_cantiniere_ together, 'the staff is coming.'

The mere mention of the word sent numbers off in full speed to their
quarters; and now all was haste and bustle to prepare for the coming
inspection. The mere's endeavours to drag her beast along were not very
successful, for, with the peculiar instinct of his species, the more
necessity there was of speed, the lazier he became; and as every one had
his own concerns to look after, she was left to her own unaided efforts
to drive him forward.

'Thou'lt have a day in prison if thou'rt found here, Mere Madou,' said a
dragoon, as he struck the ass with the flat of his sabre.

'I know it well,' cried she passionately; 'but I have none to help me.
Come here, lad; be good-natured, and forget what passed. Take his bridle
while I whip him on.'

I was at first disposed to refuse, but her pitiful face and sad plight
made me think better of it, and I seized the bridle at once; but just as
I had done so, the escort galloped forward, and the dragoons coming
on the f