, and in tones of anger, as I stepped out upon the
terrace.

'So we are acquaintances, it would appear, my friend?' said Massena, as
he stared fixedly at me.

'If General Massena cannot recall the occasion of our meeting,' said I
proudly, 'I 'll scarcely remind him of it.'

'Come, come,' said Vandamme angrily, 'I must deal with this _gaillard_
myself. Are you a French soldier?'

'I was, sir---an officer of cavalry.'

'And were you broke? did you desert? or what was it?' cried he
impatiently.

'I kept better company than I believe is considered safe in these days,
and was accidentally admitted to the acquaintance of the Prince de
Conde----'

'That's it!' said Vandamme, with a long whistle; 'that's the mischief,
then. You are a Vendean?'

'No, sir; I was never a Royalist, although, as I have said, exposed to
the very society whose fascinations might have made me one.'

'Your name is Tiernay, monsieur, or I mistake much?* said a
smart-looking young man in civilian dress.

I bowed in assent, without expressing any sentiment of either fear or
anxiety.

'I can vouch for the perfect accuracy of that gentleman's narrative,'
said Monsieur de Bourrienne, for I now saw it was himself. 'You may
possibly remember a visitor----'

'At the Temple,' said I, interrupting him. 'I recollect you perfectly,
sir, and thank you for this recognition.'

Monsieur de Bourrienne, however, did not pay much attention to my
gratitude, but proceeded, in a few hurried words, to give some account
of me to the bystanders.

'Well, it must be owned that he looks devilish unlike an officer of
hussars,' said Massena, as he laughed, and made others laugh, at my
strange equipment.

'And yet you saw me in a worse plight, general,' said I coolly.

'How so--where was that?' cried he.

'It will be a sore wound to my pride, general,' said I slowly, 'if I
must refresh your memory.'

'You were not at Valenciennes,' said he, musing. 'No, no; that was
before your day. Were you on the Meuse, then? No. Nor in Spain? I've
always had hussars in my division, but I confess I do not remember all
the officers.'

'Will Genoa not give the clue, sir?' said I, glancing at him a keen
look.

'Least of all,' cried he. 'The cavalry were with Soult. I had nothing
beyond an escort in the town.'

'So there's no help for it,' said I, with a sigh. 'Do you remember a
half-drowned wretch that was laid down at your feet in the Annunziata
Church one morning during