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killed so many of those Prussians； that their fields were manured with
them for years。 Men； women； children； all rushed upon them。 Pitchforks；
stones； mattocks； all served for the slaughter。 It was a true wolf…
hunt！〃
The veins swelled on the soldier's forehead； and his cheeks flushed as he
spoke； for this popular heroism recalled to his memory the sublime
enthusiasm of the wars of the republicthose armed risings of a whole
people； from which dated the first steps of his military career； as the
triumphs of the Empire were the last days of his service。
The orphans； too； daughters of a soldier and a brave woman； did not
shrink from the rough energy of these words； but felt their cheeks glow；
and their hearts beat tumultuously。
〃How happy we are to be the children of so brave a father！〃 cried
Blanche。
〃It is a happiness and an honor too； my childrenfor the evening of the
battle of Montmirail； the Emperor； to the joy of the whole army； made
your father Duke of Ligny and Marshal of France。〃
〃Marshal of France！〃 said Rose in astonishment； without understanding the
exact meaning of the words。
〃Duke of Ligny！〃 added Blanche with equal surprise。
〃Yes； Peter Simon； the son of a workman； became duke and marshalthere
is nothing higher except a king！〃 resumed Dagobert； proudly。 〃That's how
the Emperor treated the sons of the people； and； therefore； the people
were devoted to him。 It was all very fine to tell them 'Your Emperor
makes you food for cannon。' 'Stuff！' replied the people； who are no
fools； 'another would make us food for misery。 We prefer the cannon；
with the chance of becoming captain or colonel； marshal； kingor
invalid； that's better than to perish with hunger； cold； and age； on
straw in a garret； after toiling forty years for others。'〃
〃Even in Franceeven in Paris； that beautiful citydo you mean to say
there are poor people who die of hunger and misery； Dagobert？〃
〃Even in Paris？ Yes； my children； therefore； I come back to the point；
the cannon is better。 With it； one has the chance of becoming； like your
father； duke and marshal： when I say duke and marshal； I am partly right
and partly wrong； for the title and the rank were not recognized in the
end； because； after Montmirail； came a day of gloom； a day of great
mourning； when； as the general has told me； old soldiers like myself
weptyes； wept！on the evening of a battle。 That day； my children； was
Waterloo！〃
There was in these simple words of Dagobert an expression of such deep
sorrow； that it thrilled the hearts of the orphans。
〃Alas！〃 resumed the soldier； with a sigh； 〃there are days which seem to
have a curse on them。 That same day； at Waterloo； the general fell；
covered with wounds； at the head of a division of the Guards。 When he
was nearly cured； which was not for a long time； he solicited permission
to go to St。 Helenaanother island at the far end of the world； to which
the English had carried the Emperor； to torture him at their leisure； for
if he was very fortunate in the first instance； he had to go through a
deal of hard rubs at last； my poor children。〃
〃If you talk in that way； you will make us cry； Dagobert。〃
〃There is cause enough for it …the Emperor suffered so much！ He bled
cruelly at the heart believe me。 Unfortunately； the general was not with
him at St。 Helena； he would have been one more to console him； but they
would not allow him to go。 Then； exasperated； like so many others；
against the Bourbons； the general engaged in a conspiracy to recall the
son of the Emperor。 He relied especially on one regiment； nearly all
composed of his old soldiers； and he went down to a place in Picardy；
where they were then in garrison； but the conspiracy had already been
divulged。 Arrested the moment of his arrival； the general was taken
before the colonel of the regiment。 And this colonel；〃 said the soldier；
after a brief pause； 〃who do you think it was again？ Bah！ it would be
too long to tell you all； and would only make you more sad； but it was a
man whom your father had many reasons to hate。 When he found himself
face to face with him； he said： 'if you are not a coward； you will give
me one hour's liberty； and we will fight to the death； I hate you for
this； I despise you for that'and so on。 The colonel accepted the
challenge； and gave your father his liberty till the morrow。 The duel
was a desperate one； the colonel was left for dead on the spot。〃
〃Merciful heaven！〃
〃The general was yet wiping his sword； when a faithful friend came to
him； and told him he had only just time to save himself。 In fact； he
happily succeeded in leaving Franceyes； happilyfor a fortnight after；
he was condemned to death as a conspirator。〃
〃What misfortunes； good heaven！〃
〃There was some luck； however； in the midst of his troubles。 Your mother
had kept her promise bravely； and was still waiting for him。 She had
written to him： 'The Emperor first； and me next！' both unable to do
anything more for the Emperor； nor even for his son； the general；
banished from France； set out for Warsaw。 Your mother had lost her
parents； and was now free； they were marriedand I am one of the
witnesses to the marriage。〃
〃You are right； Dagobert； that was great happiness in the midst of great
misfortunes！〃
〃Yes； they were very happy； but； as it happened with all good hearts； the
happier they were themselves； the more they felt for the sorrows of
othersand there was quite enough to grieve them at Warsaw。 The
Russians had again begun to treat the Poles as their slaves； your brave
mother； though of French origin； was a Pole in heart and soul； she spoke
out boldly what others did not dare speak in a whisper； and all the
unfortunate called her their protecting angel。 That was enough to excite
the suspicions of the Russian governor。 One day； a friend of the
general's； formerly a colonel in the lancers； a brave and worthy man； was
condemned to be exiled to Siberia for a military plot against the
Russians。 He took refuge in your father's house； and lay hid there； but
his retreat was discovered。 During the next night； a party of Cossacks；
commanded by an officer； and followed by a travelling…carriage； arrive at
our door； they rouse the general from his sleep and take him away with
them。〃
〃Oh； heaven！ what did they mean to do with him？〃
〃Conduct him out of the Russian dominions； with a charge never to return；
on pain of perpetual imprisonment。 His last words were： 'Dagobert； I
entrust to thee my wife and child！'for it wanted yet some months of the
time when you were to be born。 Well； notwithstanding that； they exiled
your mother to Siberia； it was an opportunity to get rid of her； she did
too much good at Warsaw； and they feared her accordingly。 Not content
with banishing her； they confiscated all her property； the only favor she
could obtain was； that I should accompany her； and； had it not been for
Jovial； whom the general had given to me； she would have had to make the
journey on foot。 It was thus； with her on horseback； and I leading her
as I lead you； my children； that we arrived at the poverty…stricken
village； where； three months after；