cription I say too, for I had
just married, and now my wife is left to be annoyed by the attention of
the _fermier general_. But it can't be helped. _C'est pour la France
et pour la gloire_."

"We shall be too late to get a billet," replied the other, "and not a
sou have I in my pockets. I doubt if I get up with the main body till
they are at Flushing. By our route, they are at Axel to-day."

"If we arrive at St. Nicholas we shall do well," replied O'Brien; "but I
have a little money left, and I'll not see a comrade want a supper or a
bed who is going to serve his country. You can repay me when we meet at
Flushing."

"That I will, with thanks," replied the Frenchman, "and so will Jaques,
here, if you will trust him."

"With pleasure," replied O'Brien, who then entered into along
conversation, by which he drew out from the Frenchmen that a party of
conscripts had been ordered to Flushing, and that they had dropped
behind the main body. In about an hour we arrived at St. Nicholas, and
after some difficulty obtained entrance into a cabaret. "_Vive la
France_!" said O'Brien, going up to the fire, and throwing the snow off
his hat. In a short time we were seated to a good supper and very
tolerable wine, the hostess sitting down by us, and listening to the
true narratives of the real conscripts, and the false one of O'Brien.
After supper the conscript who first addressed us pulled out his printed
paper, with the route laid down, and observed that we were two days
behind the others. O'Brien read it over, and laid it on the table, at
the same time calling for more wine, having already pushed it round very
freely. We did not drink much ourselves, but plied them hard, and at
last the conscript commenced the whole history of his intended marriage
and his disappointment, tearing his hair, and crying now and then.
"Never mind," interrupted O'Brien, every two or three minutes; "_buvons
un autre coup pour la gloire_!" and thus he continued to make them both
drink, until they reeled away to bed, forgetting their printed paper,
which O'Brien had some time before slipped away from the table. We also
retired to our room, when O'Brien observed to me, "Peter, this
description is as much like me as I am to old Nick; but that's of no
consequence, as nobody goes willingly as a conscript, and therefore they
will never have a doubt but that it is all right. We must be off early
to-morrow, while these good people are in bed, and s