peror, to say nothing of these great captains?"

"May my life be forfeit, _Monsieur le Duc_," said the young soldier
more boldly, since Napoleon had condoned his first remark, "if I have
done wrong in assuring my Emperor that we would still die for him."

"Of what regiment are you?" said Napoleon, waving Berthier of the
frowning face into silence.

"I belong to the fifth of the line, Sire."

"He is in my corps, Sire," said Ney. "I have brigaded that veteran
regiment with the new recruits of the Young Guard."

"But I have seen service before," said the young captain.

"And I have seen you before," said Napoleon, fixing upon him a
penetrating glance.

"Yes, Sire, at the end of the bridge over the Elster at Leipsic. You
were watching the men streaming across when the bridge was blown up. I
was among the last to cross the bridge."

"Go on," said the Emperor, as the young man paused.

"Your majesty was pleased to say----"

"I recall it all now. I saw you plunge into the river and bring back
to shore an Eagle--that of your regiment. You fell at my feet. You
should have had the Legion of Honor for it. I promised it to you, did
I not?"

"Yes, Sire."

"Why did you not claim it?"

"I was wounded and left for dead; when I got back to France and my
regiment I could not add to your anxiety by----"

"Here," said the Emperor, "I still have power to reward faithful
servants and bold spirits." He took off his own cross, fastened it on
the heaving breast of the amazed young soldier. "Prince," continued
the Emperor, turning to Ney.

"Sire?"

"Spare me this young man. I need him on my staff."

"I can ill spare any officer from my weak corps of boys and old men,
much less a veteran," the marshal laughed. "One campaign makes us
veterans, it seems, nowadays, but you shall have him."

"Berthier," continued Napoleon, "make out the transfer. Give the young
man a step up. Let him be Major."

"Very well, Sire," said Berthier, turning to one of the secretaries and
giving him directions.

"Meanwhile, what's to be done?" continued Napoleon.

"Tell Caulaincourt to agree to anything," said Maret bluntly.

"I yet live," said Napoleon proudly. "Naked, starving, unarmed, though
we may be, I and my soldiers have not forgot our trade. Courage,
messieurs. All is not yet lost while your Emperor breathes. Here at
Nogent, at Montereau and farther back we still have seventy thousand
men. With seventy thousand men and