ave a world of explanation."

It was dated five o'clock, and merely contained the following few
words:--

His Majesty I. and R. accepts the resignation of Senior
Captain Duchesne, late of the Imperial Guard; who, from the
date of the present, is no longer in the service of France.

(Signed)

BERTHIER, Marshal of France.

A small sealed note dropped from the packet, which Duchesne took up, and
broke open with eagerness.

"Ha! _parbleu!_" cried he, with energy; "I thought not. See here, Burke;
it is Duroc who writes:--"

My dear Duchesne,--I knew there was no use in making such a
proposition, and told you as much. The moment I said the
word 'England,' he shouted out 'No!' in such a tone you
might have heard it at the Luxembourg. You will perceive,
then, the thing is impracticable; and perhaps, after all,
for your own sake, it is better it should be so.

Yours ever, D.

"This is all mystery to me, Duchesne; I cannot fathom it in the least."

"Let me assist you; a few words will do it. I gave in my _demission_ as
Captain of the Guard, which, as you see, his Majesty has accepted;
we shall leave it to the 'Moniteur' of to-morrow to announce whether
graciously or not. I also addressed a formal letter to Duroc, to ask the
Emperor's permission to visit England, on private business of my own."
His eyes sparkled with a malignant lustre as he said these last words,
and his cheek grew deep scarlet. "This, however, his Majesty has not
granted, doubtless from private reasons of his own; and thus we stand.
Which of us, think you, has most spoiled the other's rest for this
night?"

"But still I do not comprehend. What can take you to England? You have
no friends there; you've never been in that country."

"Do you know the very word is proscribed,--that the island is covered
from his eyes in the map he looks upon, that _perfide_ Albion is the
demon that haunts his dark hours, and menaces with threatening gesture
the downfall of all his present glory? Ah, by Saint Denis, boy! had I
been you, it is not such an epaulette as this I had worn."

"Enough, Duchesne; I will not hear more. Not to you, nor any one, am
I answerable for the reasons that have guided my conduct; nor had I
listened to so much, save that such excitement as yours may make that
pardonable which in calmer moments is not so."

"You say right, Burke," s