ing my hand in his.
"Colonel, you must explain to the marshal how stands this matter; and he
is too kind of heart and too noble of soul to think the worse of any of
us for our obstinacy. And now, my young friend, make your arrangements
to join the _compagnie d'elite_; they march to-morrow afternoon,--and
this is a service you cannot decline. Leave me to make your
acknowledgments to the marshal, and lose no more time here."

Short as had been my absence from my quarters, when I re-entered, I
descried Tascher seated at the table, and busily employed in discussing
the last fragments of my supper.

"You see, my dear friend," said he, speaking with his mouth full,--"you
see what it is to have a _salmi_ for supper. I sat eating a confounded
mess of black bread, and blacker veal, for fifteen minutes, when the
breeze brought me the odor of your delicious _plat_. It was in vain I
summoned all my virtue to resist it; if there ever was a dish made to
seduce a subaltern on service, it is this. But, I say, won't you eat
something?"

"I fear not," said I, half angrily.

"And why?" replied he. "See what a capital wing that is,--a little bare,
to be sure; and there's the back of a pigeon. _Ma foi!_ you have no
reason to complain. I say, is it true you are named among the _compagnie
d'elite_?"

I nodded, and ate on.

"_Diable!_ there never was such fortune. What a glorious exchange
for this confounded swamp, with its everlasting drill from morning to
night,--shivering under arms for four hours, and shaking with the ague
the rest of the day after,--marching, mid-leg in water, half frozen, and
trying quick movements, when the very blood is in icicles! And then
you 'll be enjoying Paris,--delightful Paris!--dining at the 'Rocher,'
supping at the 'Cadran,' lounging into the _salons_, at the very time we
shall be hiding ourselves amidst the straw of our bivouacs. I go mad to
think of it. And, what's worse than all, there you sit, as little
elated as if the whole thing were only the most natural in the world. I
believe, on my word, you 'd not condescend to be surprised if you were
gazetted Marechal de France in to-morrow's gazette."

"When I can bear, without testifying too much astonishment, to see my
supper eaten by the man who does nothing but rate me into the bargain,
perhaps I may plume myself on some equanimity of temper."

"Confound your equanimity! It's very easy to be satisfied when one has
everything his own way."

"And