n to his repugnance to state, and dislike to any
government, function,--illustrating his quiet tastes and simple habits
by recounting a career of Oriental luxury in which he described himself
as living for years past; every word he spoke, whatever the impression
on others, bringing me back most forcibly to my boyish days in the old
barrack, where first I met him. Years had but cultivated his talents;
his visions were bolder and more daring than ever; while he had
chastened down his hurried and excited tone of narrative to a quiet flow
of unexaggerated description, which, taking his age and appearance into
account, it was difficult to discredit.

Whether the Frenchmen really gave credit to his revelations, or only
from politeness affected to do it at first, I cannot say, but assuredly
he put all their courtesy to a rude test by a little anecdote before he
left the dinner-room.

While speaking of the memorable siege of Valenciennes in '93, at which
one of the French officers was present and in a high command, Bubbleton
at once launched forth into some very singular anecdotes of the
campaign, where, as he alleged, he also had served.

"We took an officer of one of your infantry regiments prisoner in a
sortie one evening," said the Frenchman. "I commanded the party, and
shall never forget the daring intrepidity of his escape. He leaped from
the wall into the fosse, a height of thirty feet and upwards. _Parbleu!_
we had not the heart to fire after him, though we saw that after the
shock he crawled out upon his hands and feet, and soon afterwards gained
strength enough to run. He gave me his pocket-book with his name; I
shall not forget it readily,--it was Stopford."

"Ah, poor Billy! He was my junior lieutenant," said Bubbleton; "an
active fellow, but he never could jump with me. Confound him! he has
left me a souvenir also, though a very different kind from yours,--a
cramp in the stomach I shall never get rid of."

As this seemed a somewhat curious legacy from one brother officer to
another, we could not help calling on the general for an explanation,--a
demand Bubbleton never refused to gratify.

"It happened in this wise," said he, pushing back his chair as he spoke,
and seating himself with the easy attitude of your true story-teller.
"The night before the assault--the 24th of July, if my memory serves
me right--the sappers were pushing forward the mines with all despatch.
Three immense globes were in readiness ben