As I anticipated, the chevalier was greatly out of temper at the whole of this proceeding. He detested nothing more than those military displays which are got up for the populace; he despised the exhibition of troops to the vulgar and unmeaning criticism of tailors and barbers; and, more than all, he shrank from the companionship of the National Guard of Paris,--those shop-keeping soldiers, with their umbrellas and spectacles, who figured with such pride on these occasions. “Another affair like this,” said he, passionately, “and I'd resign my commission. A procession at the Porte St. Martin,--the _boeuf gras_ on Easter Monday,--I'm your man for either: but to sit bolt upright on your saddle for three, maybe four hours; to be stared at by every _bourgeois_ from the Rue du Bac; to be pointed at with pink parasols and compared with some ribbon-vender of the Boulevards,--_par Saint Louis!_ I can't even bear to think of it! Look yonder,” said he, pointing to the court of the Palace, where already a regiment was drawn up under arms, and passing in inspection before the colonel; “there begins the dress-rehearsal already. His Majesty says mid-day; the generals of division draw out their men at eleven o'clock; the colonels take a look at their corps at ten; the _chefs de bataillon_ at nine; and, _parbleu!_the corporals are at work by daybreak. Then, what confounded drilling and dressing up, as if Napoleon could detect the slightest waving of the line over two leagues of ground; while you see the luckless adjutants flying hither and thither, cursing, imprecating, and threatening, and hastily reiterating at the head of each company, 'Remember, men, be sure to remember, that when the drums beat to arms, you shout “Vive l'Empereur!”' Rely upon it, Burke, if we had but one half of these preparations before a battle, we 'd not be the dangerous fellows those Russians and Austrians think us.” “Come, come,” said I, “you shall not persuade me that the soldiers feel no pride on these occasions. The same men who fight so valiantly for their Emperor--”