"No, sir, straight for the Tuileries," cried Massena, sternly: and then, correcting himself suddenly, he burst into a forced laugh. I must confess that the speech puzzled me sorely at the time, but I lived to learn its meaning, and many a time have I wondered at the shrewd foresight which even then read the ambitious character of the future emperor. "Of this fact, then, you are quite certain?--Bonaparte is on his march hither?" "I have heard it spoken of every day for the last week," replied I; "and it was in consequence of this that the English officers used to remark, if Massena but knew it he'd make a dash at them, and clear his way through at once." "They said this, did they?" said he, in a low voice, and as if pondering over it. "Yes; one and all agreed in thinking there could not be a doubt of the result." "Where have you served, sir?" asked he, suddenly turning on me, and with a look that showed he was resolved to test the character of the witness. "With Moreau, sir, on the Rhine and the Schwarzwald; in Ireland with Humbert." "Your regiment?" "The Ninth Hussars." "The 'Tapageurs,'" said he, laughing. "I know them, and glad I am not to have their company here at this moment; you were a lieutenant?" "Yes, sir." "Well, supposing that, on the faith of what you have told me, I was to follow the wise counsel of these gentlemen, would you like the alternative of gaining your promotion in the event of success, or being shot by a peloton if we fail." "They seem sharp terms, sir," said I, smiling, "when it is remembered, that no individual efforts of mine can either promote one result or the other." "Ay, but they can, sir," cried he, quickly. "If _you_ should turn out to be an Austro-English spy; if these tidings be of a character to lead my troops into danger; if, in reliance on _you_, I should be led to compromise the honor and safety of a French army--_your_ life, were it worth ten thousand times over your own value of it, would be a sorry recompense. Is this intelligible?" "Far more intelligible than flattering," said I, laughing; for I saw that the best mode to treat him was by an imitation of his own frank and careless humor. "I have already risked that life you hold so cheaply, to convey this information, but I am still ready to accept the conditions you offer me, if, in the event of success, my name appear in the dispatch." He again stared at me with his dark and piercing eyes; but I stood the glance with a calm conscience, and he seemed so to read it, for he said: "Be it so. I will, meanwhile, test your prudence. Let nothing of this interview transpire; not a word of it among the officers and comrades you shall make acquaintance with. You shall serve on my own staff; go now, and recruit your strength for a couple of days, and then report yourself at head-quarters when ready for duty. Latrobe, look to the Lieutenant Tiernay; see that he wants for nothing, and let him have a horse and a uniform as soon as may be."