rnful as their own. It seemed to me so base and unworthy a
part to summon a poor wretch before them, as if to whet their new appetite
for enjoyment by the aspect of his misery, that an indignant anger took
possession of me, and I drew myself up to my full height, and stared at
them calm and steadily.

"So, then!" cried a deep soldier-like voice from the far-end of the table,
which I at once recognized as the general-in-chief's; "so, then,
gentlemen, we have now the honor of seeing among us the hero of the Rhine!
This is the distinguished individual by whose prowess the passage of the
river was effected, and the Swabian infantry cut off in their retreat! Is
it not true, sir?" said he, addressing me with a savage scowl.

"I have had my share in the achievement!" said I, with a cool air of
defiance.

"Parbleu! you are modest, sir. So had every drummer-boy that beat his
tattoo! But yours was the part of a great leader, if I err not?"

I made no answer, but stood firm and unmoved.

"How do you call the island which you have immortalized by your valor?"

"The Fels Insel, sir."

"Gentlemen, let us drink to the hero of the Fels Insel," said he, holding
up his glass for the servant to fill it. "A bumper--a full, a flowing
bumper! And let him also pledge a toast, in which his interest must be so
brief. Give him a glass, Contard."

"His hands are tied, mon general."

"Then free them at once."

The order was obeyed in a second; and I, summoning up all my courage to
seem as easy and indifferent as they were, lifted the glass to my lips,
and drained it off.

"Another glass, now, to the health of this fair lady, through whose
intercession we owe the pleasure of your company," said the general.

"Willingly," said I; "and may one so beautiful seldom find herself in a
society so unworthy of her!"

A perfect roar of laughter succeeded the insolence of this speech; amid
which I was half pushed, half dragged, up to the end of the table, where
the general sat.

"How so, Coquin, do you dare to insult a French general, at the head of
his own staff!"

"If I did, sir, it were quite as brave as to mock a poor criminal on the
way to his execution!"

"That is the boy! I know him now! the very same lad!" cried the lady, as,
stooping behind Berthier's chair, she stretched out her hand toward me.
"Come here; are you not Colonel Mahon's godson?"

I looked her full in the face; and whether her own thoughts gave the
impulse, or that