you leave them, and when?'

"'At Monte Bello, with the colonel's permission.'

"'And the reason?'

"'_Morbleu!_ it was a fancy I had. They killed two horses under me that
day, and I saw I was not destined for the cavalry.'

"'Ha, ha!' said he, with a sly laugh; 'had they been asses, the thing
might have been different, eh?'

"'Yes, mon general,' said I, growing red, for I knew what he meant.

"'Come, Pioche, you must go back again to your old corps; they want
one or two like you,--though, _parbleu!_ you 'll ruin the Republic in
remounts.'

"'As you please it, General.'

"'Well, what shall I do for you besides? Any more commissaries to row,
eh? Methinks no bad time to gratify you in that way.'

"'Ah, mon general if you would only hang up one now and then.'

"'So I intend, the next time I hear of any of my soldiers being
obliged to eat the asses of the vivandieres.' And with that he rode on,
laughing, though none, save myself, knew what he alluded to; and, _ma
foi_, I was not disposed to turn the laugh against myself by telling.
But there goes the _reveil_, and I must leave you, mon lieutenant; the
gates will be open in a few minutes."

"Good-by, Pioche," said I, "and many thanks for your pleasant company. I
hope we shall meet again, and soon."

"I hope so, mon lieutenant; and if it be at a bivouac fire, all the
better."

The gallant corporal made his military salute, wheeled about, stiff
as if on parade, and departed; while I, throwing my cloak over my arm,
turned into the broad alley and left the garden.

CHAPTER XLI. A STORY OF THE YEAR '92.

I FOUND everything in the rue de rohan as I had left it the day before.
General d'Auvergne had not been there during my absence, but a messenger
from Versailles brought intelligence that the Court would arrive that
evening in Paris, and in all likelihood the general would accompany
them.

My day was then at my disposal, and having dressed, I strolled out to
enjoy all the strange and novel sights of the great capital. They who
can carry their memories back to Paris at that period may remember the
prodigious amount of luxury and wealth so prodigally exhibited; the
equipages, the liveries, the taste in dress, were all of the most costly
character; the very shops, too, vied with each other in the splendor and
richness of their display, and court uniforms and ornaments of jewelry
glittered in every window. Hussar jackets in all their bravery, chapeaux
covered w