this sad condition I found myself rapidly verging; the isolation
of my homeless, friendless state, the death of my hopes, the uncheered
path in which I walked, all conspired to make me feel depressed, and
I perceived that a half-recklessness was already stealing over me, and
that in my indifference as to fortune now lay my greatest consolation.
There was a time when such a rencontre as lately befell me had made me
miserable till the hour came when I should meet my adversary; now, my
blood boiled with no indignant passion, no current of angry vengeance
stirred through my veins, a stupid sullenness was over me, and I cared
nothing what might happen. And if this state became not permanent, I owe
it to youth alone--the mainspring of many of our best endeavors.

We had travelled some seven or eight miles when we stopped for a few
seconds at the door of a cabaret, and then I discovered for the first
time that my old friend Pioche was the corporal of our little party. To
my slight reproach for his not having sooner made himself known to
me, the honest fellow replied that he saw I was low in spirits about
something, and did not wish to obtrude upon me.

"Not but, after all, mon lieutenant, the best way is always to 'face
front' against bad luck, and charge through; _sapermint_, that's the way
we did at Marengo, when Desaix's corps was cut off from the left--But
pardon, mon officier, I forgot you were not there."

There was something so pleasant in the gruff courtesy of the hardy
cuirassier, that I willingly led him on to speak of his former
life,--a subject which, once entered on, he followed as fancy or memory
suggested.

"I used to feel low-spirited myself, once," said Pioche, as he smoothed
down his great mustache with a complacent motion of his fingers--"I used
to be very low in heart when I entered the service first, and saw all my
old school-fellows and companions winning their epaulettes and becoming
captains and colonels,--ay, _parbleu_, and marshals, too,--while,
because I could not read, I was to remain all my life in the ranks; as
if one could not force a palisade nor break through a square till he had
stuffed his head with learning. All this made me very sad, and I would
sit brooding over it for hours long. But at last I began to think my
own lot was not the worst after all; my duty was easily done, and, when
over, I could sleep sound till the _reveil_ blew. I ran no danger of being
scolded by the Petit Caporal,