tell you."

"And is there no help for this? Must you really go?" said I,
compassionating the dejected and sorrow-struck expression of the youth.

"Must I go! _Ma foi_ you know little of this dear uncle of mine, if you
ask such a question. When once his mind 's made up, anything like an
attempt to argue only confirms his resolve. The best thing now is, to
obey and say nothing; for if my aunt remonstrates, I may spend my life
in garrison there over the galley slaves."

A knocking at the outer door interrupted our conversation at this
moment, and a corporal of the staff entered, with a despatch-bag at his
waist.

"Sous-Lieutenant Tascher," said he, touching his cap, and presenting a
large official-looking letter to my companion, who threw it from him on
the table, and turned away to hide his confusion. "Monsieur Burke," said
the corporal, withdrawing another ominous document from his leathern
pouch.

"_Diantre!_" cried Tascher, turning quickly about, "have I got you into
a scrape as well as myself? I remember now the General asked me who was
my 'comrade.'"

I took the paper with a trembling hand, and tore it open. The first line
was all I could read; it was a War Office official, appointing me to the
vacant commission in the huitieme hussars.

Tascher's hand shook as he leaned on my shoulder, and I could feel a
convulsive twitching of his fingers as his agitation increased; but in
a second or two he recovered his self-command, and taking my hand within
both of his, he said, while the large tears were starting from his
eyes,--

"I'm glad it's you, Burke!" and then turned away, unable to say more.

It was some time before I could bring myself to credit my good fortune.
Had I been free to choose, I could have desired nothing better nor more
to my liking; and when I succeeded at length, then came my embarrassment
at my poor friend's disappointment, which must have been still more
poignant as contrasted with my success. Tascher, however, had all the
Creole warmth of temperament. The first burst over, he really enjoyed
the thought of my promotion; and we sat up the entire night talking over
plans for the future, and making a hundred resolves for contingencies,
some of which never arose, and many, when they came, suggested remedies
of their own.

At daybreak my comrade's horses came to the door, and a mounted orderly
attended to accompany him to the prison where the convoy were assembled.
We shook hands again and ag