praises on the troops, and especially on Clairfait, which
made the count's dark features absolutely glow. The whole group rode
together until we reached the open country. A decisive success had
unquestionably been gained; and in war the first success is of proverbial
importance. On this point, the duke laid peculiar weight on the few words
which he could spare to me.

"M. Marston," he observed, taking me cordially by the hand, "we are
henceforth more than friends, we are camarades. We have been in the field
together; and, with us Prussians, that is a tie for life."

I made my acknowledgments for his highness's condescension. Business then
took the lead.

"You will now have a good despatch to transmit to our friends in England.
The Count Clairfait has shown himself worthy of his reputation. I
understand that the enemy's force consisted chiefly of the household
troops of France; if so, we have beaten the best soldiers of the kingdom,
and the rest can give us but little trouble. You will remark upon these
points; and now for Paris."

A cry, or rather a shout of assent from the circle of officers, echoed the
words, and we all put spurs to our horses, and followed the _cortege_
through the noble old groves. But before we reached its confines, the
firing had wholly ceased, and the enemy were hurrying down the slope of
the Argonne, and crossing in great disorder a plain which separated them
from their main body. Our light troops and cavalry were dashing in pursuit,
and prisoners were continually taken. From the spot where we halted, the
light of the sinking day showed us the rapid breaking up of the fugitive
column, the guns, one by one, left behind; the muskets thrown away; and
the soldiers scattered, until our telescopes could discover scarcely more
than a remnant reaching the protection of the distant hill.

We supped that night on the green sward. The duke had invited his own
staff, and that of Clairfait, to his tent, in honour of the day, and I
never spent a gayer evening. His incomparable finish of manners, mingled
with the cordiality which no man could more naturally assume when it was
his pleasure, and his mixture of courtly pleasantry with the bold humour
which campaigning, in some degree, teaches to every one, made him, if
possible, more delightful, to my conception, than even in our first
interview. Towards the close of the supper, which, like every thing else
round him, was worthy of Sardanapalus, he addressed