I had to submit to
a series of salutations, which led to every form, from hand-shaking and
embracing to kissing; while, perfectly unconscious of any cause for my
popularity, I went through the ceremonies like one in a dream.

'Where's Kilmaine?' 'What of Hardy?' 'Is Grouchy coming?' 'Can the Brest
fleet sail?' 'How many line-of-battle ships have they?' 'What's the
artillery force?' 'Have you brought any money?' This last question,
the most frequent of all, was suddenly poured in upon me, and with a
fortunate degree of rapidity, that I had no time for a reply, had I even
the means of making one.

'Let the lad have a seat and a glass of wine before he submits to this
interrogatory,' said a fine, jolly-looking old _chef d'escadron_ at the
head of the table, while he made a place for me at his side. 'Now tell
us, boy, what number of the "Guides" are to be of our party?'

I looked a little blank at the question, for in truth I had not heard of
the corps before, nor was I aware that it was their uniform I was then
wearing.

'Come, come, be frank with us, lad,' said he; 'we are all comrades here.
Confound secrecy, say I.'

'Ay, ay,' cried the whole assembly together--'confound secrecy. We are
not bandits nor highwaymen; we have no need of concealment.'

'I'll be as frank as you can wish, comrades,' said I; 'and if I lose
some importance in your eyes by owning that I am not the master of a
single state secret, I prefer to tell you so, to attempting any unworthy
disguise. I come here, by orders from General Kilmaine, to join your
expedition; and except this letter for General Humbert, I have no claim
to any consideration whatever.'

The old _chef_ took the letter from my hands and examined the seal and
superscription carefully, and then passed the document down the table
for the satisfaction of the rest.

While I continued to watch with anxious eyes the letter on which so much
of my own fate depended, a low whispering conversation went on at my
side, at the end of which the _chef_ said--

'It's more than likely, lad, that your regiment is not coming; but our
general is not to be balked for that. Go he will; and let the Government
look to themselves if he is not supported. At all events you had better
see General Humbert at once; there's no saying what that despatch may
contain. Santerre, conduct him upstairs.'

A smart young fellow arose at the bidding, and beckoned me to follow
him.

It was not without difficulty