ne with what courage I worked at the arsenal; nothing was
too much for me. I would have passed night and day in mending the guns
and adjusting the bayonets and tightening the screws. When the
commandant, Mr. Montravel, came to see us, he praised me.

"Excellent!" said he, "that is good! I am pleased with you, Bertha."

These words filled me with satisfaction, and I did not fail to report
them to Catherine, in order to raise her spirits. We were almost
certain that Mr. Montravel would keep me at Pfalzbourg.

The gazettes were full of the new constitution, which they called the
"Additional Act," and the act of the "Champ de Mai." Mr. Goulden
always had something to say, sometimes about one article and sometimes
another, but I mixed no more in these affairs, and repented of having
complained of the processions and expiations; I had had enough of
politics.

This lasted till the 23d of May. That morning about ten o'clock I was
in the great hall of the arsenal, filling the boxes with guns. The
great door was wide open, and the men were waiting with their wagons
before the bullet park, to load up the boxes. I had nailed the last
one, when Robert, the guard, touched me on the shoulder and said in my
ear:

"Bertha, the Commandant Montravel wishes to see you. He is in the
pavilion."

"What does he want of me?"

"I do not know."

I was afraid directly, but I went at once. I crossed the grand court,
near the sheds for the gun-carriages, mounted the stairs, and knocked
softly at the door.

"Come in," said the commandant.

I opened the door all in a tremble, and stood with my cap in my hand.
Mr. Montravel was a tall, brown, thin man, with a little stoop in his
shoulders. He was walking hastily up and down his room, in the midst
of his books and maps, and arms hung on the wall.

"Ah! Bertha, it is you, is it? I have disagreeable news to tell you,
the third battalion to which you belong leaves for Metz."

On hearing this my heart sank, and I could not say a word. He looked
at me, and after a moment he added:

"Do not be troubled, you have been married for several months, and you
are a good workman, and that deserves consideration. You will give
this letter to Colonel Desmichels at the arsenal at Metz; he is one of
my friends, and will find employment in some of his workshops for you,
you may be certain."

I took the letter which he handed me, thanked him, and went home filled
with alarm. Zebede, Mr. G