omething of you before."

Marmont still continued to talk on; and I heard the words, Rhine, Genoa,
and Kuffstein distinctly fall from him. The Emperor smiled twice, and
nodded his head slowly, as if assenting to what was said.

"But his wound?" said Napoleon, doubtingly.

"He says that your Majesty cured him when the doctor despaired," said
Marmont. "I'm sure, sire, he has equal faith in what you still could do
for him."

"Well, sir," said the Emperor, addressing me, "if all I hear of you be
correct, you carry a stouter heart before the enemy than you seem to wear
here. Your name is high in Marshal Massena's list; and General Marmont
desires to have your services on his staff. I make no objection; you shall
have your grade."

I bowed without speaking; indeed, I could not have uttered a word, even if
it had been my duty.

"They have extracted the ball, I hope?" said the Emperor to me, and
pointing to my thigh.

"It never lodged, sire; it was a round shot," said I.

"Diable! a round shot! You're a lucky fellow, Colonel Tiernay," said he,
laying a stress on the title, "a very lucky fellow."

"I shall ever think so, sire, since your Majesty has said it," was my
answer.

"I was not a lieutenant-colonel at your age," resumed Napoleon; "nor were
you either, Marmont. You see, sir, that we live in better times, at least,
in times when merit is better rewarded." And with this he passed on; and
Marmont, slipping my arm within his own, led me away, down the great
stair, through crowds of attendant orderlies and groups of servants. At
last we reached our carriage, and in half an hour re-entered Vienna, my
heart wild with excitement, and burning with zealous ardor to do something
for the service of the Emperor.

The next morning I removed to General Marmont's quarters; and for the
first time put on the golden aigrette of chef d'etat-major, not a little
to the astonishment of all who saw the "boy colonel," as, half in sarcasm,
half in praise, they styled me. From an early hour of the morning till the
time of a late dinner, I was incessantly occupied. The staff duties were
excessively severe, and the number of letters to be read and replied to
almost beyond belief. The war had again assumed something of importance in
the Tyrol. Hofer and Spechbacher were at the head of considerable forces,
which in the fastnesses of their native mountains were more than a match
for any regular soldiery. The news from Spain was gloomy: Engl