"I may find leisure and inclination to give you the fullest information on this point at another moment, sir; for the present my business is more pressing. Can I see General Vandamme?" "Of course, you can not, my worthy fellow! If you had served, as you say you have, you could scarcely have made so absurd a request. A French general of division does not give audience to every tatterdemalion who picks up a prisoner on the high road." "It is exactly because I _have_ served that I do make the request," said I, stoutly. "How so, pray?" asked he, staring at me. "Because I know well how often young staff-officers, in their own self-sufficiency, overlook the most important points, and, from the humble character of their informants, frequently despise what their superiors, had they known it, would have largely profited by. And, even if I did not know this fact, I have the memory of another one scarcely less striking, which was, that General Massena himself admitted me to an audience when my appearance was not a whit more imposing than at present." "You knew General Massena, then. Where was it, may I ask?" "In Genoa, during the siege." "And what regiment have you served in?" "The Ninth Hussars." "Quite enough, my good fellow. The Ninth were on the Sambre while that siege was going on," said he, laughing sarcastically. "I never said that my regiment was at Genoa. I only asserted that I was," was my calm reply, for I was anxious to prolong the conversation, seeing that directly over our heads, on a balcony, a number of officers had just come out to smoke their cigars after dinner, among whom I recognized two or three in the uniform of general. "And now for your name; let's have that," said he, seating himself, as if for a lengthy cross-examination. I stole a quick glance over head, and seeing that two of the officers were eagerly listening to our colloquy, said aloud, "I'll tell you no more, sir. You have already heard quite enough to know what my business is. I didn't come here to relate my life and adventures." "I say, Lestocque," cried a large, burly man, from above, "have you picked up Robinson Crusoe, there?" "He's far more like the man, Friday, mon general," said the young lieutenant, laughing, "although even a savage might have more deference for his superiors." "What does he want, then?" asked the other. "An audience of yourself, mon general--nothing less." "Have you told him how I am accustomed to reward people who occupy my time on false pretences, Lestocque?" said the general, with a grin. "Does he know that the Salle de Police first, and the Prevot afterward comprise my gratitude?" "He presumes to say, sir, that he knows General Massena," said the lieutenant. "Diable! He knows _me_, does he say--he knows _me_? Who is he--what is he?" said a voice I well remembered, and at the same instant the brown, dark visage of General Massena peered over the balcony.