On they passed,--a sad train, but full of glorious memories. There were the grenadiers of Oudinot, who carried the Russian centre; eleven wagons were filled with their wounded. Here come the voltigeurs of Bernadotte's brigade; see how the fellows preserve their ancient repute, cheering and laughing,--ever the same, whether roistering at midnight in the Faubourg St. Antoine or rushing madly upon the ranks of the enemy! There are the dragoons of Nansouty, who charged the Imperial Guard of Russia; see the proud line that floats on their banner, “All wounded by the sabre!” And here come the cuirassiers of the Guard, with a detachment of their own as escort; how splendidly they look in the bright sun, and how proudly they come! As I looked, the Emperor rode forward, bareheaded, his whole staff uncovered. “Chapeau bas, Messieurs!” said he, in a loud voice. “Honor to the brave in misfortune!” Just then the escort halted, and I heard a laugh in front, close to where the Emperor was standing; but from the crowded staff around him, could not see what was going forward. “What is it?” said I, curious to learn the least incident of the scene. “Advance a pace or two, Captain,” said the young officer I addressed; “you can see it all.” I did so, and then beheld--oh, with what delight and surprise!--my poor friend, Pioche, seated on the driving-seat of a gun, with his hand in salute as the Emperor spoke to him. “Thou wilt not have promotion, nor a pension. What, then, can I do for thee?” said Napoleon, smiling. “Hast any friend in the service whom I could advance for thy sake?» “Yes, _parbleu!_” said Pioche, scratching his forehead, with a sort of puzzle and confusion even the Emperor smiled at, “I have a friend. But mayhap those wouldn't like--” “Ask me for nothing thou thinkest I could not, ought not to grant,” said the Emperor, sternly. “What is't now?” The poor corporal seemed thoroughly nonplussed, and for a second or two could not reply. At last, as if summoning all his courage for the effort, he said,-- “Well, thou canst but refuse, and then the fault will be all thine. She is a brave girl, and had she been a man--” “Whom can he mean?” said Napoleon. “Is the man's head wandering?” “No, _mon général!_ all right there; that shell has turned many a sabre's edge. I was talking of Minette, the vivandière of ours. If thou art so bent on doing me a service, why, promote _her_, and thou'lt make the whole regiment proud of it.” This speech was lost in the laugh which, beginning with the Emperor, extended to the staff, and at last to all the bystanders. “Dost wish I should make her one of my aides-de-camp?” said Napoleon, still laughing. “_Parbleu!_ thou hast more ill-favored ones among them,” said Pioche, with a significant look at the grim faces of Rapp and Dam, whose hard and weather-beaten features never deigned a smile, while every other face was moved in laughter. “But thou hast not said yet what I am to do,” rejoined the Emperor.