will not,' said the viscount to
the young officer.

"'General Bonaparte does not relent, sir; and if he did, he 'd never
show it,' was the cold reply.

"That day week I carried a musket on the ramparts of Toulon. Here began
a career I have followed ever since; with how much of enthusiasm I leave
you to judge for yourself."

As Duchesne concluded this little story he arose, and paced the room
backwards and forwards with rapid steps, while his compressed lips and
knitted brow showed he was lost in gloomy recollections of the past.

"He was right, after all, Burke," said he, at length. "Personal honor
will make the soldier; conviction may make the patriot. I fought as
stoutly for this same cause as though I did not loathe it: how many
others may be in the same position? You yourself, perhaps."

"No, no; not I."

"Well, be it so," rejoined he, carelessly. "Goodnight" And with that he
strolled negligently from the room, and I heard him humming a tune as he
mounted the stairs towards his bedroom.

CHAPTER XV. A GOOD-BY

"I have come to bring you a card for the Court ball, Capitaine," said
General Daru, as he opened the door of my dressing-room the following
morning. "See what a number of them I have here; but except your own,
the addresses are not filled up. You are in favor at the Tuileries, it
would seem."

"I was not aware of my good fortune, General," replied I.

"Be assured, however, it is such," said he. "These things are not, as so
many deem them, mere matters of chance; every name is well weighed
and conned over: the officers of the household serve one who does not
forgive mistakes. And now that I think of it, you were intimate--very
intimate, I believe--with Duchesne?"

"Yes, sir; we were much together."

"Well, then, after what has occurred, I need scarcely say your
acquaintance with him had better cease. There is no middle course in
these matters. Circumstances will not bring you, as formerly, into each
other's company; and to continue your intimacy would be offensive to his
Majesty."

"But surely, sir, the friendship of persons so humble as we are can be
a subject neither for the Emperor's satisfaction nor displeasure, if he
even were to know of it?"

"You must take my word for that," replied the general, somewhat sternly.
"The counsel I have given to-day may come as a command to-morrow. The
Chevalier Duchesne has given his Majesty great and grave offence; see
that you are not led to follow