ed to say he
had been employed like myself.

"I fancy, Monsieur," said he, bowing, "that you have had a sharp ride
also this morning. I have just arrived from Goeding--four leagues--in
less than an hour; and with all that, too late, I believe, to remedy
what has occurred."

"What, then, has happened?"

"Davoust has been tricked into an armistice, and suffered the Russians
to pass the bridge. The Emperor Alexander has taken advantage of the
negotiations with Austria, and got his army clear through; so, at least,
it would seem. I saw Napoleon tear the despatch into fragments, and
stamp his foot upon them. But here he comes."

The words were scarcely spoken when the Emperor came rapidly up,
followed by his staff. He wore a gray surtout, trimmed with dark fur,
and had his hands clasped within the cuffs of the coat. His face was
pale as death, and save a slight contraction of his brows, there was
nothing to show any appearance of displeasure.

"Who brought the despatch from Goeding?"

"I did, Sire," said the officer.

"How are the roads, sir?"

"Much cut up, and in one place a torrent has carried away part of a
bridge."

"I knew it,--I knew it," said he, bitterly; "it is too late. Duroc,"
cried he, while the words seemed to come forth with a hissing sound,
"did I not tell you, 'Grattez le Russe, et vous trouverez le Tartare!'"

The words were graven in my memory from that hour; even yet, I can
recall the very accents as when I heard them.

"And you, sir," said he, turning suddenly towards me, "you came from
General Savary. Return to him with this letter. Have you written, Duroc?
Well, you'll deliver this to General Savary at Holitsch. He may require
you to proceed to Goeding. Are you well mounted?"

"Yes, Sire."

"Come, then, sir. I made you a captain yesterday; let us see if you can
win your spurs to-day."

From the time I received the despatch to that in which I was in the
saddle not more than five minutes elapsed. The idea of being chosen by
the Emperor himself for a service was a proud one, and I resolved to
acquit myself with credit. With what concert does one's heart beat to
the free stride of a mettled charger! how does each bold plunge warm
the blood and stir up the spirits! and as, careering free over hill and
valley, we pass in our flight the clouds that drift above, how does the
sense of freedom, realized as it is, impart a feeling of ecstasy to
our minds! Our thoughts, revelling on the wayward