At last our tedious detention came, like all things else, to a conclusion. Two sloops, capable of containing all the remainder of my troop, came in one evening too late to sail before next morning, and with this last party I decided on embarking. When Angélique heard this she came and begged I would lend her a suit of my plain clothes, as the prefect had prohibited French women going with the English, and had already stopped many. Here was a dilemma. My old Scotch quartermaster, however, got us out of it. I don’t know how he passed the gates, but he did manage on the morning of the 25th January 1816 to smuggle Angélique on board before daylight, and conceal her below, without the necessity of changing her female for male attire. After breakfast we embarked and immediately sailed. Webber Smith went with us, as we were the very last of the Royal Horse-Artillery. The weather was gloomy, cold, and stormy, but the wind was fair, and we were off Dover early in the afternoon. The tide would not admit even our little sloop into this miserable harbour before midnight, and she was hove to almost within speaking distance of the pier-head. Not relishing this position, we were glad to avail ourselves of a pilot-gig that came off and go ashore--although these fellows charged us a guinea a-head for thus carrying us about 200 yards. After an early dinner at the York Hotel, Smith set off post for Blackheath, where his family was residing. _26th._--To Canterbury. F. and Angélique in a post-chaise, to which I and Milward (carrying his lance) served as an escort, for I had no men to march with. So ended the memorable campaign of 1815. THE END. PRINTED BY WILLIAM BLACKWOOD AND SONS, EDINBURGH. FOOTNOTES: [1] There was a species of Malmsey Madeira, the most delicious wine imaginable. The cellar seemed well stocked, and our table consequently was well supplied. [2] These people were deputies sent from the Provisional Government to treat with the Duke, but I have never made out yet who he of the decoration might have been. [3] The close Prussian collar, now so well known to the British army, was a novelty to us then: our collars were low, and cut down in front. The cavalry and horse-artillery particularly affected very narrow sloping collars. [4] This must have been a mistake, for the Duke dates his despatches from Loures on the 30th June, and the headquarters would hardly have been established in a place so utterly destroyed as is here described. Perhaps the place was La Chapelle, which I find in the map. My recollection of the scene here portrayed is quite perfect even now, although not of the name. [5] This makes it appear that my notes are right, answering with the map as they do. [6] We did this to be enabled to march more expeditiously and freely, observing this road to be quite clear of troops. [7] Bourget.