e, into threescore glasses. Fougas drank
with everybody, except M. du Marnet. The conversation, which was erratic
and noisy, imprudently raised a question of comparative merits. An
officer of cuirassiers asked Fougas if he had seen Bordesoulle's
splendid charge, which flung the Austrians into the valley of Plauen.
Fougas had known General Bordesoulle personally, and had seen with his
own eyes the beautiful heavy cavalry manoeuvre which decided the victory
of Dresden. But he chose to be disagreeable to M. du Marnet, by
affecting an air of ignorance or indifference.

"In our time," said he, "the cavalry was always brought into action
after the battle; we employed it to bring in the enemy after we had
routed them."

Here a great outcry arose, and the glorious name of Murat was thrown
into the balance.

"Oh, doubtless--doubtless!" said he, shaking his head. "Murat was a good
general in his limited sphere; he answered perfectly for all that was
wanted of him. But if the cavalry had Murat, the infantry had Napoleon."

M. du Marnet observed, judiciously, that Napoleon, if he must be seized
upon for the credit of any single arm of the service, would belong to
the artillery.

"With all my heart, monsieur," replied Fougas; "the artillery and the
infantry. Artillery at a distance, infantry at close quarters--cavalry
off at one side."

"Once more I beg your pardon," answered M. du Marnet; "you mean to say,
at the sides, which is a very different matter."

"At the sides, or at one side, I don't care! As for me, if I were
commander-in-chief, I would set the cavalry aside."

Several cavalry officers had already flung themselves into the
discussion. M. du Marnet held them back, and made a sign that he wanted
to answer Fougas alone.

"And why, then, if you please, would you set the cavalry aside?"

"Because the dragoon is an incomplete soldier."

"Incomplete?"

"Yes, sir; and the proof is, that the Government has to buy four or five
hundred francs' worth of horse in order to complete him. And when the
horse receives a ball or a bayonet thrust, the dragoon is no longer good
for anything. Have you ever seen a cavalryman on foot? It would be a
pretty sight!"

"I see myself on foot every day, and I don't see anything particularly
ridiculous about it."

"I'm too polite to contradict you."

"And for me, sir, I am too just to combat one paradox with another. What
would you think of my logic, if I were to say to you (the ide