These struggles must have manifested themselves strongly in my looks, for the marquise, with all her self-occupation, remarked how ill I seemed. "I see, sir," cried she, "that all the ravages of war have not steeled your heart against true piety; my tale has moved you strongly." I muttered something in concurrence, and she went on. "Happily for you, you were but a child when such scenes were happening! Not, indeed, that childhood was always unstained in those days of blood; but you were, as I understand, the son of a Garde du Corps, one of those loyal men who sealed their devotion with their life. Were you in Paris then?" "Yes, madam," said I, briefly. "With your mother, perhaps?" "I was quite alone, madam; an orphan on both sides." "What was your mother's family-name?" Here was a puzzle; but at a hazard I resolved to claim her who should sound best to the ears of La Marquise. "La Lasterie, madam," said I. "La Lasterie de La Vignoble--a most distinguished house, sir. Provençal, and of the purest blood. Auguste de La Lasterie married the daughter of the Duke de Miriancourt, a cousin of my husband's, and there was another of them who went as embassador to Madrid." I knew none of them, and I supposed I looked as much. "Your mother was, probably, of the elder branch, sir;" asked she. I had to stammer out a most lamentable confession of my ignorance. "Not know your own kinsfolks, sir; not your nearest of blood!" cried she, in amazement. "General, have you heard this strange avowal? or is it possible that my ears have deceived me?" "Please to remember, madam," said I, submissively, "the circumstances in which I passed my infancy. My father fell by the guillotine." "And his son wears the uniform of those who slew him!" "Of a French soldier, madam, proud of the service he belongs to; glorying to be one of the first army in Europe." "An army without a cause is a banditti, sir. Your soldiers, without loyalty, are without a banner." "We have a country, madam." "I must protest against this discussion going further," said the general, blandly, while in a lower tone he whispered something in her ear. "Very true, very true," said she; "I had forgotten all that. Monsieur de Tiernay, you will forgive me this warmth. An old woman, who has lost nearly every thing in the world, may have the privilege of bad temper accorded her. We are friends now, I hope," added she, extending her hand, and, with a smile of most gracious meaning, beckoning to me to sit beside her on the sofa.