er was quite dreadful, as, with his hands
clasped behind his back, and his head slightly thrown forward, the
Emperor stared steadily at me. I am more than half ashamed of the
confession, but, what between the effect of long illness and suffering,
the length of time I had been standing, and the emotion I experienced,
I felt myself growing dizzy, and a sickly faintness began to creep over
me, and, but for the support of my sabre, I should actually have fallen.

'You seem weak; you had better sit down,' said the Emperor, in a soft
and mild voice.

[Illustration: 606]

'Yes, sire, I have not quite recovered yet,' muttered I indistinctly;
but before I could well finish the sentence, Marmont was beside the
Emperor, and speaking rapidly to him.

'Ah, indeed!' cried Napoleon, tapping his snuff-box, and smiling. 'This
is Tiernay, then. _Parbleu!_ we have heard something of you before.'

Marmont still continued to talk on; and I heard the words, Rhine, Genoa,
and Kuffstein distinctly fall from him. The Emperor smiled twice, and
nodded his head slowly, as if assenting to what was said.

'But his wound?' said Napoleon doubtingly. 'He says that your Majesty
cured him when the doctor despaired,' said Marmont. 'I'm sure, sire, he
has equal faith in what you still could do for him.'

'Well, sir,' said the Emperor, addressing me, 'if all I hear of you be
correct, you carry a stouter heart before the enemy than you seem to
wear here. Your name is high in Marshal Massena's list; and General
Marmont desires to have your services on his staff. I make no objection;
you shall have your grade.'

I bowed without speaking; indeed, I could not have uttered a word, even
if it had been my duty.

'They have extracted the ball, I hope?' said the Emperor to me, and
pointing to my thigh.

'It never lodged, sire; it was a round shot,' said I. '_Diable!_ a round
shot! You're a lucky fellow, Colonel Tiernay,' said he, laying a stress
on the title--'a very lucky fellow.'

'I shall ever think so, sire, since your Majesty has said it,' was my
answer.

'I was not a lieutenant-colonel at your age,' resumed Napoleon; 'nor
were you either, Marmont. You see, sir, that we live in better times--at
least, in times when merit is better rewarded.' And with this he passed
on; and Marmont, slipping my arm within his own, led me away, down
the great stair, through crowds of attendant orderlies and groups
of servants. At last we reached our carriage, and i