o?"

"The letters have not come yet, and without them he could not leave the
coast. Meanwhile, be cautious: take care lest your absence should be
remarked by the men; return to them now, and if anything occur, I will
make a signal for you."

The landlord's advice was well timed, for I found that the party were
already becoming impatient at my delay, and wondering what had caused
it.

"They say, Comrade," said a short-set, dark-featured Breton, whose black
beard and mustache left little vestige of a human face visible,--"they
say that the cavalry of the Guard give themselves airs with us marines,
and that our company is not good enough for them. Is this the case?"

"It is the first time I have heard the remark," replied I, "and I hope
it may be the last; with us of the Eighth I know such a feeling never
existed; and yet we thought ourselves not inferior to our neighbors."

"Then why did you leave us just now?" grumbled out two or three in a
breath.

"You shall know that presently," said I, smiling; at the same time I
arose and opened the door. "You may bring in the Burgundy now, Master
Joseph; we are all ready for it."

A hearty cheer welcomed this speech, and many a rude hand was stretched
forth to grasp mine; at the same instant the host, accurately divining
the necessity of the moment, entered with a basket containing six
bottles, whose cobwebbed necks and crusted surface bespoke the choicest
bin of his cellar.

"_Macon!_ gentlemen," said he, drawing the cork of a flask with all the
steadiness of hand of one accustomed to treat Burgundy properly.

"Ah, _parbleu!_ a generous grape, too," said the short sailor, who spoke
first, as he drained his glass and refilled it. "_Allons_, Comrades,
'The Emperor! '"

"The Emperor!" repeated each voice in turn, even to the poor landlord,
whose caution was stronger than his loyalty.

"The Emperor, and may Heaven preserve him!" said the dark-whiskered
fellow.

"The Emperor, and may Heaven forgive him!" said the host, who this time
uttered the true sentiments of his heart, without knowing it.

"Forgive him!" roared three or four together,--"forgive him what?"

"For not making thee an admiral of the fleet," said the landlord,
slapping the stout sailor familiarly on the shoulder.

A burst of rude laughter acknowledged the success of this speech, and
by common consent the host was elected One of the company. As the wine
began to work upon the party, the dark fellow, wh