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face of Pelletan； young Oudin； flushed by his first duel； Mortier； with the
sword…cut across his wrinkled brow。
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I laid aside my busby and drew my sword。
〃I have one favour to ask you； gentlemen；〃 said I。
〃Marshal Lannes has invited me to breakfast and I cannot keep him
waiting。〃
〃What do you suggest？〃 asked Major Olivier。
〃That you release me from my promise to give you five minutes each；
and that you will permit me to attack you all together。〃 I stood upon my
guard as I spoke。
But their answer was truly beautiful and truly French。 With one
impulse the twelve swords flew from their scabbards and were raised in
salute。 There they stood； the twelve of them； motionless； their heels
together； each with his sword upright before his face。
I staggered back from them。 I looked from one to the other。 For an
instant I could not believe my own eyes。 They were paying me homage；
these； the men who had jeered me！ Then I understood it all。 I saw the
effect that I had made upon them and their desire to make reparation。
When a man is weak he can steel himself against danger； but not against
emotion。
〃Comrades；〃 I cried； 〃comrades！〃 but I could say no more。
Something seemed to take me by the throat and choke me。 And then
in an instant Olivier's arms were round me； Pelletan had seized me by the
right hand； Mortier by the left； some were patting me on the shoulder；
some were clapping me on the back； on every side smiling faces were
looking into mine； and so it was that I knew that I had won my footing in
the Hussars of Conflans。
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III。 How the Brigadier Slew the
Fox＇*＇
＇*＇ This story； already published in The Green Flag； is included here
so that all of the Brigadier Gerard stories may appear together。
In all the great hosts of France there was only one officer toward
whom the English of Wellington's Army retained a deep； steady； and
unchangeable hatred。
There were plunderers among the French； and men of violence；
gamblers； duellists； and roues。 All these could be forgiven； for others of
their kidney were to be found among the ranks of the English。 But one
officer of Massena's force had committed a crime which was unspeakable；
unheard of； abominable； only to be alluded to with curses late in the
evening； when a second bottle had loosened the tongues of men。 The
news of it was carried back to England； and country gentlemen who knew
little of the details of the war grew crimson with passion when they heard
of it； and yeomen of the shires raised freckled fists to Heaven and swore。
And yet who should be the doer of this dreadful deed but our friend the
Brigadier； Etienne Gerard； of the Hussars of Conflans； gay…riding； plume…
tossing； debonair； the darling of the ladies and of the six brigades of light
cavalry。
But the strange part of it is that this gallant gentleman did this hateful
thing； and made himself the most unpopular man in the Peninsula； without
ever knowing that he had done a crime for which there is hardly a name
amid all the resources of our language。 He died of old age； and never
once in that imperturbable self… confidence which adorned or disfigured
his character knew that so many thousand Englishmen would gladly have
hanged him with their own hands。 On the contrary； he numbered this
adventure among those other exploits which he has given to the world； and
many a time he chuckled and hugged himself as he narrated it to the eager
circle who gathered round him in that humble cafe where； between his
dinner and his dominoes； he would tell； amid tears and laughter； of that
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inconceivable Napoleonic past when France； like an angel of wrath； rose
up； splendid and terrible； before a cowering continent。 Let us listen to
him as he tells the story in his own way and from his own point of view。
You must know； my friends； said he； that it was toward the end of the
year eighteen hundred and ten that I and Massena and the others pushed
Wellington backward until we had hoped to drive him and his army into
the Tagus。 But when we were still twenty…five miles from Lisbon we
found that we were betrayed； for what had this Englishman done but build
an enormous line of works and forts at a place called Torres Vedras； so that
even we were unable to get through them！ They lay across the whole
Peninsula； and our army was so far from home that we did not dare to risk
a reverse； and we had already learned at Busaco that it was no child's play
to fight against these people。 What could we do； then； but sit down in
front of these lines and blockade them to the best of our power？ There
we remained for six months； amid such anxieties that Massena said
afterward that he had not one hair which was not white upon his body。
For my own part； I did not worry much about our situation； but I
looked after our horses； who were in much need of rest and green fodder。
For the rest； we drank the wine of the country and passed the time as best
we might。 There was a lady at Santarembut my lips are sealed。 It is
the part of a gallant man to say nothing； though he may indicate that he
could say a great deal。
One day Massena sent for me； and I found him in his tent with a great
plan pinned upon the table。 He looked at me in silence with that single
piercing eye of his； and I felt by his expression that the matter was serious。
He was nervous and ill at ease； but my bearing seemed to reassure him。
It is good to be in contact with brave men。
〃Colonel Etienne Gerard；〃 said he； 〃I have always heard that you are a
very gallant and enterprising officer。〃
It was not for me to confirm such a report； and yet it would be folly to
deny it； so I clinked my spurs together and saluted。
〃You are also an excellent rider。〃
I admitted it。
〃And the b