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sportsmen is a base passion。 He hated me； this Englishman； because I
had been before him in transfixing the animal。 How different are our
natures！ Had I seen him do such a deed I would have embraced him with
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cries of joy。 But there was no time for argument。
〃I regret it； sir；〃 said I； 〃but you have a cloak here and I must take it。〃
He tried to rise from his chair and reach his sword； but I got between
him and the corner where it lay。
〃If there is anything in the pockets〃
〃A case；〃 said he。
〃I would not rob you；〃 said I； and raising the cloak I took from the
pockets a silver flask； a square wooden case and a field…glass。 All these I
handed to him。 The wretch opened the case； took out a pistol； and
pointed it straight at my head。
〃Now； my fine fellow；〃 said he； 〃put down your sword and give
yourself up。〃
I was so astounded at this infamous action that I stood petrified before
him。 I tried to speak to him of honour and gratitude； but I saw his eyes
fix and harden over the pistol。
〃Enough talk！〃 said he。 〃Drop it！〃
Could I endure such a humiliation？ Death were better than to be
disarmed in such a fashion。 The word
〃Fire！〃 was on my lips when in an instant the English man vanished
from before my face； and in his place was a great pile of hay； with a red…
coated arm and two Hessian boots waving and kicking in the heart of it。
Oh； the gallant landlady！ It was my whiskers that had saved me。
〃Fly； soldier； fly！〃 she cried； and she heaped fresh trusses of hay from
the floor on to the struggling Englishman。 In an instant I was out in the
courtyard； had led Violette from her stable； and was on her back。 A pistol
bullet whizzed past my shoulder from the window； and I saw a furious
face looking out at me。 I smiled my contempt and spurred out into the
road。 The last of the Prussians had passed； and both my road and my
duty lay clear before me。 If France won； all well。 If France lost； then
on me and my little mare depended that which was more than victory or
defeatthe safety and the life of the Emperor。 〃On； Etienne； on！〃 I cried。
〃Of all your noble exploits； the greatest； even if it be the last； lies now
before you！〃
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II。 THE STORY OF THE NINE PRUSSIAN
HORSEMEN
I told you when last we met； my friends； of the important mission from
the Emperor to Marshal Grouchy； which failed through no fault of my own；
and I described to you how during a long afternoon I was shut up in the
attic of a country inn； and was prevented from coming out because the
Prussians were all around me。 You will remember also how I overheard
the Chief of the Prussian Staff give his instructions to Count Stein； and so
learned the dangerous plan which was on foot to kill or capture the
Emperor in the event of a French defeat。 At first I could not have
believed in such a thing； but since the guns had thundered all day； and
since the sound had made no advance in my direction； it was evident that
the English had at least held their own and beaten off all our attacks。
I have said that it was a fight that day between the soul of France and
the beef of England； but it must be confessed that we found the beef was
very tough。 It was clear that if the Emperor could not defeat the English
when alone； then it might； indeed； go hard with him now that sixty
thousand of these cursed Prussians were swarming on his flank。 In any
case； with this secret in my possession； my place was by his side。
I had made my way out of the inn in the dashing manner which I have
described to you when last we met； and I left the English aide…de…camp
shaking his foolish fist out of the window。 I could not but laugh as I
looked back at him； for his angry red face was framed and frilled with hay。
Once out on the road I stood erect in my stirrups； and I put on the
handsome black riding… coat； lined with red； which had belonged to him。
It fell to the top of my high boots； and covered my tell…tale uniform
completely。 As to my busby； there are many such in the German service；
and there was no reason why it should attract attention。 So long as no
one spoke to me there was no reason why I should not ride through the
whole of the Prussian army； but though I understood German； for I had
many friends among the German ladies during the pleasant years that I
fought all over that country； still I spoke it with a pretty Parisian accent
which could not be confounded with their rough； unmusical speech。 I
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knew that this quality of my accent would attract attention； but I could
only hope and pray that I would be permitted to go my way in silence。
The Forest of Paris was so large that it was useless to think of going
round it； and so I took my courage in both hands and galloped on down the
road in the track of the Prussian army。 It was not hard to trace it； for it
was rutted two feet deep by the gun…wheels and the caissons。 Soon I
found a fringe of wounded men； Prussians and French； on each side of it；
where Bulow's advance had come into touch with Marbot's Hussars。 One
old man with a long white beard； a surgeon； I suppose； shouted at me； and
ran after me still shouting； but I never turned my head and took no notice
of him save to spur on faster。 I heard his shouts long after I had lost sight
of him among the trees。
Presently I came up with the Prussian reserves。 The infantry were
leaning on their muskets or lying exhausted on the wet ground； and the
officers stood in groups listening to the mighty roar of the battle and
discussing the reports which came from the front。 I hurried past at the
top of my speed；