to a strange officer.

"France," was his reply. He then asked the sentinel, "Where is the
colonel commanding the brigade?"

The sentinel lowered his voice, "Asleep, my officer," said he; for the
new-comer carried two epaulets.

"Wake him," said the officer in a tone of a man used to command on a
large scale.

Dujardin heard, and did not choose a stranger should think he was
asleep in broad day. He came hastily out of the tent, therefore, with
Josephine's letter in his hand, and, in the very act of conveying it to
his bosom, found himself face to face with--her husband.

Did you ever see two duellists cross rapiers?

How unlike a theatrical duel! How smooth and quiet the bright blades
are! they glide into contact. They are polished and slippery, yet they
hold each other. So these two men's eyes met, and fastened: neither
spoke: each searched the other's face keenly. Raynal's countenance,
prepared as he was for this meeting, was like a stern statue's. The
other's face flushed, and his heart raged and sickened at sight of the
man, that, once his comrade and benefactor, was now possessor of the
woman he loved. But the figures of both stood alike haughty, erect, and
immovable, face to face.

Colonel Raynal saluted Colonel Dujardin ceremoniously. Colonel Dujardin
returned the salute in the same style.

"You thought I was in Egypt," said Raynal with grim significance
that caught Dujardin's attention, though he did not know quite how to
interpret it.

He answered mechanically, "Yes, I did."

"I am sent here by General Bonaparte to take a command," explained
Raynal.

"You are welcome. What command?"

"Yours."

"Mine?" cried Dujardin, his forehead flushing with mortification and
anger. "What, is it not enough that you take my"--He stopped then.

"Come, colonel," said the other calmly, "do not be unjust to an old
comrade. I take your demi-brigade; but you are promoted to Raimbaut's
brigade. The exchange is to be made to-morrow."

"Was it then to announce to me my promotion you came to my quarters?"
and Camille looked with a strange mixture of feelings at his old
comrade.

"That was the first thing, being duty, you know."

"What? have you anything else to say to me, then?"

"I have."

"Is it important? for my own duties will soon demand me."

"It is so important that, command or no command, I should have come
further than the Rhine to say it to you."

Let a man be as bold as a lion, a certain awe still