ude the sense of ridicule its
own littleness might have created, and men felt indisposed to jest where
their mirth might end in melancholy.

The most remarkable case, and that which more than any other impressed
the public mind of the period, was that of the Prince de Hatzfeld, whose
letter to the King of Prussia was opened at the post-office, and made
the subject of a capital charge against him. Its contents were, as
might be imagined from the channel of transmission, not such as could
substantiate any treasonable intention on his part. A respectful homage
to his dethroned sovereign; a detail of the mournful feeling experienced
throughout his capital; and some few particulars of the localities
occupied by the French troops, was the entire. And for this he was tried
and condemned to death,--a sentence which the Emperor commanded to be
executed before sunset that same day. Happily for the fate of the noble
prince, as for the fair fame of Napoleon, both Duroc and Rapp were
ardently attached to him, and at their earnest entreaties his life was
spared. But the impression which the circumstances made upon the minds
of the inhabitants was deep and lasting; and there was a day to come
when all these insults were to be remembered and avenged. If I advert
to the occurrence here, it is because I have but too good reason to bear
memory of it, influencing, as it did, my own future fortunes.

It chanced that one evening, when sitting in a cafe with some of my
brother officers, the subject of the Prince de Hatzfeld's offence
was mooted; and in the unguarded freedom with which one talks to his
comrades, I expressed myself delighted at the clemency of the Emperor,
and conceived that he could have no part in the breach of confidence
which led to the accusation, nor countenance in any way his prosecution.
My companions, who had little sympathy for Prussians, and none for
aristocracy whatever, took a different view of the matter, and scrupled
not to regret that the sentence of the court-martial had not been
executed. The discussion grew warm between us; the more, as I was
alone in my opinion, and assailed by several who overbore me with loud
speaking. Once or twice, too, an obscure taunt was thrown out against
aliens and foreigners, who, it was alleged, never could at heart forgive
the ascendency of France and Frenchmen.

To this I replied hotly, for while not taking to myself an insult which
my conduct in the service palpably refuted,