shall have as little to complain of
as possible.'

As he concluded these few but to me most comforting words, I received a
hint from the aide-de-camp to withdraw, which I did, into an adjoining
room. The same aide-de-camp by whom I had hitherto been accompanied now
joined me, and, slapping me familiarly on the shoulder, cried out--

'_Eh, bien!_ I hope now you are satisfied. Joseph is a fine, generous
fellow, and will take care not to forget his promise to you. Meanwhile,
come and take a share of my supper.'

He opened a door in the wainscot as he spoke, and introduced me into a
perfectly-fitted-up little boudoir, where a supper had been laid out
for him. Another cover was soon provided for me, and in a few minutes
we were seated at table, chatting away about the war and the opposing
armies, as though instead of partisans we had merely been lookers-on at
the great game before us. My companion, though but a year or two older
than myself, held the grade of colonel, every step to which he won at
the point of his sword; he was strikingly handsome, and his figure,
though slight, powerfully knit. As the champagne passed back and forward
between us, confidences became interchanged, and before midnight sounded
I found my companion quite familiar with the name of Louisa Bellew,
while to my equal astonishment I was on terms of perfect intimacy with
a certain lovely marquise of the Chaussee d'Antin. The tinkle of a sharp
bell suddenly called the aide-de-camp to his legs; so drinking off a
large goblet of cold water, and taking up his chapeau, he left the room.

I now threw myself back into my chair, and, tossing off a bumper of
champagne, began to reason myself into the belief that there were worse
things even than imprisonment among the French. Flitting thoughts of the
past, vague dreams of the future, confused images of the present, were
all dancing through my brain, when the door again opened, and I heard my
companion's footsteps behind me.

'Do you know, Alphonse,' said I, without turning in my chair, 'I have
been seriously thinking of making my escape? It is quite clear that a
battle is not far off; and, by Jove! if I only have the good fortune to
meet with your _chef d etat major_, that savage old Oudinot, I'll pledge
myself to clear off scores with him.'

A half chuckle of laughter behind induced me to continue:--

'That old fellow certainly must have risen from the ranks--not a touch
of breeding about him. I'm certa