recrow did not start back. He stopped and looked down with a
smile at the steel barrier the soldiers had improvised for him, then
drew himself a little up, carried his hand carelessly to his cap, which
was nearly in two, and gave the name of an officer in the French army.

If you or I, dressed like a beggar who years ago had stolen regimentals
and worn them down to civil garments, had addressed these soldiers with
these very same words, the bayonets would have kissed closer, or perhaps
the points been turned against our sacred and rusty person: but there is
a freemasonry of the sword. The light, imperious hand that touched that
battered cap, and the quiet clear tone of command told. The sentinels
slowly recovered their pieces, but still looked uneasy and doubtful in
their minds. The battered one saw this, and gave a sort of lofty smile;
he turned up his cuffs and showed his wrists, and drew himself still
higher.

The sentinels shouldered their pieces sharp, then dropped them
simultaneously with a clatter and ring upon the pavement.

"Pass, captain."

The rusty figure rang the governor's bell. A servant came and eyed
him with horror and contempt. He gave his name, and begged to see the
governor. The servant left him in the hall, and went up-stairs to tell
his master. At the name the governor reflected, then frowned, then bade
his servant reach him down a certain book. He inspected it. "I thought
so: any one with him?"

"No, your excellency."

"Load my pistols, put them on the table, show him in, and then order a
guard to the door."

The governor was a stern veteran with a powerful brow, a shaggy eyebrow,
and a piercing eye. He never rose, but leaned his chin on his hand, and
his elbow on a table that stood between them, and eyed his visitor very
fixedly and strangely. "We did not expect to see you on this side the
Pyrenees," said he gravely.

"Nor I myself, governor."

"What do you come for?"

"A suit of regimentals, and money to take me to Paris."

"And suppose, instead of that, I turn out a corporal's guard, and bid
them shoot you in the courtyard?"

"It would be the drollest thing you ever did, all things considered,"
said the other coolly, but bitterly.

The governor looked for the book he had lately consulted, found the
page, handed it to the rusty officer, and watched him keenly: the blood
rushed all over his face, and his lip trembled; but his eye dwelt stern
yet sorrowful on the governor.

"I h