The general overwhelmed me with questions: first about my family, of
which I could tell him little; and then of my own adventures, at which,
to my astonishment, he never evinced those symptoms of displeasure I
so confidently expected from an old follower of the Bourbons. This he
continued to do, as he ate a hurried meal which was laid out for him in
the _salon_; all the rest standing in a circle around, and pressing him
with questions for this friend or that at every pause he made.

"You see, gentlemen," cried he, as I replied to some inquiry about my
campaign, "this is an instance of what I have so often spoken to you.
Here is a youth who leaves his country solely for fighting sake; he
does not care much for the epaulette, he cares less for the cause. Come,
come, don't interrupt me; I know you better than you know yourself.
You longed for the conflict and the struggle and the victory; and,
_parbleu!_ we may say as we will, but you could have scarcely made a
better selection than with his Majesty, Emperor and King, as they style
him."

This speech met with a sorry reception from the bystanders, and in the
dissatisfied expression of their faces, a less confident speaker might
have read his condemnation; but the general felt not this, or, if he
did, he effectually concealed it.

"You have not inquired for Gustave de Me is in," said he, looking round
at the circle.

"You have not seen him, surely?" cried several together; "we heard he
was at Vienna."

"No, _parbleu!_ he lives about a league from his old home,--the very
house we spent our Christmas at eighteen years ago. They have made a
barrack of his chateau, and thrown his park into a royal _chasse_; but
he has built a hut on the river-side, and walks every day through his
own ground, which he says he never saw so well stocked for many a year.
He is as happy as ever, and loves to look out on the Seine before his
door when the bright stream is rippling through many a broad leaf; ay,
Messieurs, of good augury, too,--the lilies of France." He lifted a
bumper to his lips as he spoke, and drank the toast with enthusiasm.

This sudden return to loyalty, so boldly announced, served to reinstate
him in their estimation; and once again all their former pleasure at
his appearance came back, and again the questions poured in from every
quarter.

"And the abbe," said one; "what of him? Has he made up his mind yet?"

"To be sure he has, and changed it too, at least twice e