, should serve the Emperor better than, and as
faithfully as, his father has done, if his Majesty will graciously
permit him to do so, in the grenadier battalion, which I have long
commanded; it will be the greatest favor I can ask of him." A low murmur
of grief, no longer repressible, ran through the little group around the
litter. "The grenadiers of the Sixth," continued he, proudly, while for
an instant his pale features flushed up, "will not love him the less for
the name he bears. Come, come, men! do not give way thus; what will my
kind young friend here say of us, when he joins the hussar brigade? This
is not their ordinary mood, believe me," said he, addressing me. "The
Russian Guard would give a very different account of them; they are
stouter fellows at the _pas de charge_ than around the litter of a
wounded comrade."

While he was yet speaking, Louis returned, followed by two officers, one
of whom, notwithstanding his efforts at concealment, I recognized to be
Marshal Murat.

"We must remove him, if it be possible," said the surgeon, in a whisper.
"And yet the slightest motion is to be dreaded."

"May I speak to him?" said Murat, in a low voice.

"Yes, that you may," replied Louis, who now pushed his way forward and
approached the litter.

"Ah, so soon!" said the wounded man, looking up; "a man of your word,
Louis. And how is Rapp? Nothing in this fashion, I hope," added he,
pointing to his fractured limb with a sickly smile.

"No, no," replied the surgeon. "But here is Marshal Murat come to
inquire after you, from the Emperor."

A flush of pride lit up St. Hilaire's features as he heard this, and he
asked eagerly, "Where, where?"

"We must remove you, St. Hilaire," said Murat, endeavoring to speak
calmly, when it was evident his feelings were highly excited; "Louis
says you must not remain here."

"As you like, Marshal. What says his Majesty? Is the affair as decisive
as he looked for?"

"Far more so. The allied army is destroyed; the campaign is ended."

"Come, then, this is not so bad as I deemed it," rejoined St. Hilaire,
with a tone of almost gayety; "I can afford to be invalided if the
Emperor has no further occasion for me."

While these few words were interchanging, Louis had applied a tourniquet
around the wounded limb, and having given the soldiers directions how
they were to step, so as not to disturb or displace the shattered bones,
he took his place beside the litter, and said,--