ing yourself at a post so
remote from your duty."

'The general made no reply, but fixed his eyes steadfastly on the face
of the Emperor, whose cold glance met his own, impassive and unmoved.

'"Have you heard the question of the court?" said the President, in a
louder tone, "or shall I repeat it?"

'The prisoner turned upon him a look of vacancy. Like one suddenly
awakened from a frightful dream, he appeared struggling to remember
something which no effort of his mind could accomplish. He passed his
hand across his brow, on which now the big drops of sweat were standing,
and then there broke from him a sigh, so low and plaintive it was
scarcely audible.

'"Collect yourself, general," said the President, in a milder tone; "we
wish to hear from your own lips your account of this transaction."

'Aubuisson cast his eyes downwards, and with his hands firmly clasped,
seemed to reflect. As he stood thus, his look fell upon the cross of the
Legion which he wore on his bosom; with a sudden start he pressed his
hand upon it, and drawing himself up to his full height, exclaimed, in a
wild and broken voice--

'"Silence--silence a la mort!"

'The members of the court-martial looked from one to the other in
amazement, while after a pause of a few minutes the President repeated
his question, dwelling patiently on each word, as if desirous to suit
the troubled intellect of the prisoner.

'"You are asked," said he, "to remember why you appeared at the bridge
of the Elster."

'"Hush!" replied the prisoner, placing his finger upon his lips, as if
to instil caution; "not a word!"

'"What can this mean?" said the President, "his mind appears completely
astray."

'The members of the tribunal leaned their heads over the table, and
conversed for some moments in a low tone, after which the President
resumed the interrogatory as before.

'"Que voulez-vous?" said the Emperor, rising, while a crimson spot on
his cheek evinced his displeasure; "Que voulez-vous, messieurs! do you
not see the man is mad?"

'"Silence!" reiterated Aubuisson, in the same solemn voice; "silence a la
mort!"

'There could no longer be any doubt upon the question. From whatever
cause proceeding, his intellect was shaken, and his reason gone. Some
predominant impression, some all-powerful idea, had usurped the seat of
both judgment and memory, and he was a maniac.

'In ten days after, General Aubuisson--the distinguished soldier of
the Republic, the _br