door was suddenly opened, and the Emperor passed, out.
His eyes were turned on me as he went, and I shrank back from their
expression of withering anger.

"Captain Burke!" said a voice from within the room, for the door
continued open.

I entered slowly, but with a firm step. My mind was made up; and in the
force of a resolute determination, I found strength for whatever might
happen.

"It would appear, sir," said the marshal, addressing me with a stern and
severe expression of features, "it would appear that you permit yourself
the widest liberty in canvassing the acts of his Majesty the Emperor;
for I find you here mentioned "--he took a paper from the table as he
spoke--"as declaiming, in a public cafe, on the subject of the Prince de
Hatzfeld, and expressing, in no measured terms, your disapproval of his
imprisonment."

"All that I said upon the subject, sir, so far as I can recollect, was
in praise of the Emperor for clemency so well bestowed."

"There was no high-flown sentiment on the breach of honorable confidence
effected in opening private letters?" said the marshal, sarcastically.

"Yes, sir; I do remember expressing myself strongly on that head."

"I am not surprised, sir," interrupted he, "at your indignation; your
own conscience must have prompted you on the occasion. When a gentleman
has such correspondents as the Chevalier Duchesne, he may well feel on
a point like this. But enough of this. I have his Majesty's orders
regarding you, which are as follows--"

"Forgive me, I beg you, sir, the liberty of interrupting you for one
moment. I am an alien, and therefore little versed in the habits and
usages of the land for whose service I have shed my blood; but I am sure
a marshal of France will not refuse a kindness to an officer of the
army, however humble his station. I merely ask the answer to one
question."

"What is it?" said the marshal, quickly.

"Am I, as an officer, at liberty to resign my grade, and quit the
service?"

"Yes, _parbleu!_" said he, reddening, "yes, that you are."

"Then here I do so," rejoined I, drawing my sword from its scabbard.
"The career I can no longer follow honorably and independently, I shall
follow no more."

"Your corps, sir?" said the marshal.

"The Eighth Hussars of the Guard."

"Take a note of that, Gardanne. I shall spare you all unnecessary delay
in tendering a written resignation of your rank; I accept it now. You
leave Berlin in twenty-four hours."