as I looked, and the figures before me floated like
masses of vapor before my sight.

The Empress now spoke to the general, but no longer could I take notice
of what was said. Voices there were, but they conveyed nothing to my
mind. A terrible rush of thoughts, too quick for perception, chased one
another through my brain, and I felt as though my temples were bursting
open from some pressure within.

Suddenly the general moved forward, and knelt to kiss the Empress's
hand; he then took that of Mademoiselle de Meudon, and held it to his
lips. I heard the word "Adieu!" faintly uttered by her low voice; the
veil fell once more over her features. That moment a stir followed, and
in a few minutes more we were descending the stairs alone, the general
leaning on my arm, his right hand pressed across his eyes.

When we reached the court, several officers of rank pressed forward, and
I could hear the buzz of phrases implying congratulations and joy, to
which the old general replied briefly, and with evident depression of
manner. The dreadful oppression of a sad dream was over me still, and I
felt as though to awake were impossible, when, to some remark near him,
the general replied,--

"True! Quite true, Monseigneur; I have made her my wife. There only
remains one reparation for it, which is to make her my widow."

"His wife!" said I, aloud, re-echoing the word without knowing.

"Even so, mon ami," said he, pressing my hand softly; "my name and my
fortune are both hers. As for myself,--we shall never meet again."

He turned away his head as he spoke, nor uttered another word during the
remainder of the way.

When we arrived at the Rue de Rohan the horses were harnessed to the
carriage, and all in readiness for our departure. The rumor of expected
war had brought, a crowd of idlers about the door, through which we
passed with some difficulty into the house. Hastily throwing an eye
over the now dismantled room, the old general approached the window that
looked out upon the Tuileries. "Adieu!" muttered he to himself; "je ne
vous reverrai jamais!" And with that he pressed his travelling-cap over
his brows, and descended the stairs.

A cheer burst from the mob; the postilion's whip cracked loudly;
the horses dashed over the pavement; and ere the first flurry of mad
excitement had subsided from my mind, Paris was some miles behind us,
and we were hastening on towards the frontier.

Almost every man has experienced at least