he remained
several minutes, as if contemplating something too new and strange for
utterance. 'This must have an end,' thought I--'here goes'; and so, with
my hand in salute, I drew myself full up, and said--

'I carried your orders, sir, and received for answer that Major
Roquelard had taken the north road advisedly, as that by Beaumont was
cut up by the artillery trains; that he would cross over to the Metz
Chaussee as soon as possible; that he thanked you for the kindness of
your warning, and regretted that the rules of active service precluded
his despatching an escort of arrest along with me, for the manner in
which I had ridden with the order.'

'Anything more?' asked the colonel, in a voice that sounded thick and
guttural with passion.

'Nothing more, sir.'

'No further remark or observation?' 'None, sir--at least from the
major.'

'What then--from any other?'

'A captain, sir, whose name I do not know, did say something.'

'What was it?'

'I forget the precise words, sir, but their purport was, that Colonel
Mahon would certainly shoot me when I got back.'

'And you replied?'

'I don't believe I made any reply at the time, sir.'

'But you thought, sir--what were your thoughts?'

'I thought it very like what I'd have done myself in a like case,
although certain to be sorry for it afterwards.'

Whether the emotion had been one for some time previous restrained, or
that my last words had provoked it suddenly, I cannot tell, but the lady
here burst out into a fit of laughter, but which was as suddenly checked
by some sharp observation of the colonel, whose stern features grew
sterner and darker every moment.

'There we differ, sir,' said he, 'for I should not' At the same
instant he pushed his plate away, to make room on the table for a small
portfolio, opening which, he prepared to write.

'You will bring this paper,' continued he, 'to the provost-marshal.
To-morrow morning you shall be tried by a regimental court-martial, and
as your sentence may probably be the galleys and hard labour----'

'I 'll save them the trouble,' said I, quietly drawing my sword; but
scarcely was it clear of the scabbard when a shriek broke from the lady,
who possibly knew not the object of my act; at the same instant the
colonel bounded across the chamber, and striking me a severe blow upon
the arm, dashed the weapon from my hand to the ground.

'You want the fusillade--is that what you want?' cried he, as, in a
tow