elite_, you appear to have visited the
Duchess of Montserrat, and frequented her soirees."

"Once, sir; but once I was in the house of the duchess. My visit
could scarcely have occupied as many minutes as I have spent here this
morning."

"Dined occasionally at the 'Moisson d'Or," continued the marshal, not
noticing in any way my reply. "Well, as I believe you are now aware that
there are no secrets with his Majesty's Government, perhaps you will
inform me what are your relations with the Chevalier Duchesne?"

For some minutes previous my mind was dwelling on that personage; and
I answered the question in a few words, by stating the origin of our
acquaintance, and briefly adverting to its course.

"You correspond with the chevalier?" said he, interrupting.

"I have never done so; nor is it likely, from the manner in which we
parted last, that I ever shall."

"This scarcely confirms that impression, sir," said the marshal, taking
an open letter from the table and holding it up before me. "You know his
handwriting; is that it?"

"Yes; I have no doubt it is."

"Well, sir, that letter belongs to you; you may take and read it.
There is enough there, sir, to make your conduct the matter of a
court-martial; but I am satisfied that a warning will be sufficient.
Let this be such then. Learn, sir, that the plottings of a poor and
mischievous party harmonize ill with the duties of a brave soldier; and
that a captain of the Guards might choose more suitable associates than
the dupes and double-dealers of the Faubourg St. Germain. There is your
brevet to the 'Legion,' signed by the Emperor. I shall return it to
his Majesty; mayhap at some future period your conduct may merit
differently. I need hardly say that a gentleman so very little
particular in the choice of his friends would be a most misplaced
subject for the honor of the 'Legion.'"

He waved his hand in sign for me to withdraw, and overwhelmed with
confusion, I bowed and left the room. Nor was it till the door closed
behind me that I felt how cruelly and unjustly I had been treated; then
suddenly the blood rushed to my face and temples, my head seemed as
if it would burst at either side, and forgetting every circumstance of
place and condition, I seized the handle of the door and wrenched it
open.

"Marshal," said I, with the fearlessness of one resolved at any risk to
vindicate his character, "I know nothing of this letter; I have not
read one line of it. I ha