s, this pang at least was spared me.

As these thoughts crossed my mind, I felt him press my hand. Overjoyed,
I knelt down and whispered some words in his ear.

"No, no," muttered he, in a low, plaintive tone; "not all lost,--not
all! La Vendee yet remains!" He was dreaming.

CHAPTER VII. THE ARMISTICE.

As I sat thus watching with steadfast gaze the features of the sleeping
man, I heard the clattering of a horse's hoofs on the pavement beneath,
and the next moment the heavy step of some one ascending the stairs.
Suddenly the door was flung wide open, and an officer in the handsome
uniform of the Austrian Imperial Guard entered.

"Excuse this scant ceremony, Monsieur," said he, bowing with much
courtesy, "but I almost despaired of finding you out. I come from
Holitsch with despatches for your Emperor; they are most pressing, as I
believe this note will inform you."

While I threw my eye over the few lines addressed by General Savary to
the officer in waiting at Holitsch, and commanding the utmost speed in
forwarding the despatch that accompanied them, the officer drew near the
bed where De Beauvais was lying.

"_Mere de ciel_, it is the count!" cried he, starting back with
astonishment.

"Yes," said I, interrupting him; "I found him here on my arrival. He is
badly wounded, and should be removed at once. How can this be done?"

"Easily. I 'll despatch my orderly at once to Holitsch, and remain here
till he return."

"But if our troops advance?"

"No, no! we're all safe on that score; the armistice is signed. The very
despatch in your hands, I believe, concludes the treaty."

This warned me that I was delaying too long the important duty intrusted
to me, and with a hurried entreaty to the Austrian not to leave De
Beauvais, I hastened down the stairs, and proceeded to saddle for the
road.

"One word, Monsieur," said the officer, as I was in the act of mounting.
"May I ask the name of him to whom my brother officers owe the life of a
comrade much beloved?"

"My name is Burke; and yours, Monsieur?"

"Berghausen, _chef d'escadron_ of the Imperial Guard. If ever you should
come to Vienna--" But I lost the words that followed, as, spurring my
horse to a gallop, I set out towards the headquarters of the Emperor.

As I rode forward, my eyes were ever anxiously bent in the direction of
our camp, not knowing at what moment I might see the advance of a column
along the road, and dreading lest, before the desp