es!
beautiful as I had seen her in the forest of Versailles: her dark hair
clustering around her noble brow,--and her eyes, so full of tender
loveliness, shadowed by their deep fringes,--were there as I remembered
them; the lips were half parted, as though the artist had caught the
speaking expression,--and as-I gazed, I could fancy that voice, so
musically sweet, still ringing in my ears. I could not look on it
enough: the features recalled the scenes when first I met her; and the
strong current of love, against which so long I struggled and contended,
flowed on with tenfold force once more. Should we ever meet again,--and
how? were the questions which rushed to my mind, and to which hope and
fear dictated the replies.

The locket was a present from the Empress to the general,--at least,
so I interpreted an inscription on the back; and this--shall I confess
it?--brought pleasure to my heart. Like one whose bosom bore some
wondrous amulet, some charm against the approach of danger, I now rode
at the head of my gallant band. Life had grown dearer to me, without
death becoming more dreaded. Her image next my heart made me feel as if
I should combat beneath her very eyes, and I burned to acquit myself
as became one who loved her. A wild, half frantic joy animated me as I
went, and was caught by the gay companions around me.

At midnight a despatch reached me, ordering me to hasten forward by a
forced march to Montereau, the bridge of which town was a post of the
greatest importance, and must be held against the Austrians till Victor
could come up. We lost not a moment. It was a calm frosty night, with a
bright moon, and we hastened along without halting. About an hour before
daybreak we were met by a cavalry patrol, who informed us that Gerard
and Victor had both arrived, but too late: Montereau was held by the
Wurtemberg troops, who garrisoned the village, and defended the bridge
with a strong force of artillery; twice the French troops had been
beaten back with tremendous loss, and all looked for the morrow to renew
the encounter. We continued our journey; and, as the sun was rising,
discovered, at a distance on the road beside the river, the mass of an
infantry column: it was the Emperor himself, come up with the Guard, to
attack the position.

Already the preparations for a fierce assault were in progress. A
battery of twelve guns was posted on a height to command the bridge;
another, somewhat more distant, overlook