fter the duel, the
cutter's midshipman called out to O'Brien, requesting him to state to
the commandant that he was also an officer; but O'Brien replied, that
there was no evidence for it but his bare word. If he were an officer,
he must prove it himself, as everything in his appearance flatly
contradicted his assertion.

"It's very hard," replied the midshipman, "that because my jacket's a
little tarry or so, I must lose my rank."

"My dear fellow," replied O'Brien, "it's not because your jacket's a
little tarry; it is because what the Frenchman call your _tout ensemble_
is quite disgraceful in an officer. Look at your face in the first
puddle, and you'll find that it would dirty the water you look into."

"Well, it's very hard," replied the midshipman, "that I must go on
eating this black rye bread; and very unkind of you."

"It's very kind of me, you spalpeen of the _Snapper_. Prison will be a
paradise to you, when you get into good commons. How you'll relish your
grub by-and-by! So now shut your pan, or by the tail of Jonah's whale,
I'll swear you're a Spaniard."

I could not help thinking that O'Brien was very severe upon the poor
lad, and I expostulated with him afterwards. He replied, "Peter, if, as
a cutter's midshipman, he is a bit of an officer, the devil a bit is he
of a gentleman, either born or bred; and I'm not bound to bail every
blackguard-looking chap that I meet. By the head of St. Peter, I would
blush to be seen in his company, if I were in the wildest bog in
Ireland, with nothing but an old crow as spectator."

We were now again permitted to be on our parole, and received every
attention and kindness from the different officers who commanded the
detachments which passed the prisoners from one town to the other. In a
few days we arrived at Montpelier, where we had orders to remain a short
time until directions were received from government as to the depots for
prisoners to which we were to be sent. At this delightful town we had
unlimited parole, not even a gendarme accompanying us. We lived at the
_table d'hote_, were permitted to walk about where we pleased, and
amused ourselves every evening at the theatre. During our stay there,
we wrote to Colonel O'Brien at Cette, thanking him for his kindness, and
narrating what had occurred since we parted I also wrote to Celeste,
enclosing my letter unsealed in the one to Colonel O'Brien. I told her
the history of O'Brien's duel, and all I c