and　his　sister；　for　she　was　his　sister；　I　am　sure。　I　thought　about　them　for　a　whole　year　afterwards；　and　kept　on　hoping　that　they　would　come　back。　I　would　have　given　two　years　of　my　life　only　to　see　that　traveler　again；　he　looked　so　nice。　Until　I　knew　M。　Benassis　these　were　the　greatest　events　of　my　life。　Although　my　mistress　turned　me　away　for　trying　on　that　horrid　ball…dress　of　hers；　I　was　sorry　for　her；　and　I　have　forgiven　her；　for　candidly；　if　you　will　give　me　leave　to　say　so；　I　thought　myself　the　better　woman　of　the　two；　countess　though　she　was。〃
  〃Well；〃　said　Genestas；　after　a　moment's　pause；　〃you　see　that　Providence　has　kept　a　friendly　eye　on　you；　you　are　in　clover　here。〃
  At　these　words　La　Fosseuse　looked　at　Benassis　with　eyes　full　of　gratitude。
  〃Would　that　I　was　rich！〃　came　from　Genestas。　The　officer's　exclamation　was　followed　by　profound　silence。
  〃You　owe　me　a　story；〃　said　La　Fosseuse　at　last；　in　coaxing　tones。
  〃I　will　tell　it　at　once；〃　answered　Genestas。　〃On　the　evening　before　the　battle　of　Friedland；〃　he　went　on；　after　a　moment；　〃I　had　been　sent　with　a　despatch　to　General　Davoust's　quarters；　and　I　was　on　the　way　back　to　my　own；　when　at　a　turn　in　the　road　I　found　myself　face　to　face　with　the　Emperor。　Napoleon　gave　me　a　look。
  〃　'You　are　Captain　Genestas；　are　you　not？'　he　said。
  〃　'Yes；　your　Majesty。'
  〃　'You　were　out　in　Egypt？'
  〃　'Yes；　your　Majesty。'
  〃　'You　had　better　not　keep　to　the　road　you　are　on；'　he　said；　'turn　to　the　left；　you　will　reach　your　division　sooner　that　way。'
  〃That　was　what　the　Emperor　said；　but　you　would　never　imagine　how　kindly　he　said　it；　and　he　had　so　many　irons　in　the　fire　just　then；　for　he　was　riding　about　surveying　the　position　of　the　field。　I　am　telling　you　this　story　to　show　you　what　a　memory　he　had；　and　so　that　you　may　know　that　he　knew　my　face。　I　took　the　oath　in　1815。　But　for　that　mistake；　perhaps　I　might　have　been　a　colonel　to…day；　I　never　meant　to　betray　the　Bourbons；　France　must　be　defended；　and　that　was　all　I　thought　about。　I　was　a　Major　in　the　Grenadiers　of　the　Imperial　Guard；　and　although　my　wound　still　gave　me　trouble；　I　swung　a　sabre　in　the　battle　of　Waterloo。　When　it　was　all　over；　and　Napoleon　returned　to　Paris；　I　went　too；　then　when　he　reached　Rochefort；　I　followed　him　against　his　orders；　it　was　some　sort　of　comfort　to　watch　over　him　and　to　see　that　no　mishap　befell　him　on　the　way。　So　when　he　was　walking　along　the　beach　he　turned　and　saw　me　on　duty　ten　paces　from　him。
  〃　'Well；　Genestas；'　he　said；　as　he　came　towards　me；　'so　we　are　not　yet　dead；　either　of　us？'
  〃It　cut　me　to　the　heart　to　hear　him　say　that。　If　you　had　heard　him；　you　would　have　shuddered　from　head　to　foot；　as　I　did。　He　pointed　to　the　villainous　English　vessel　that　was　keeping　the　entrance　to　the　Harbor。　'When　I　see　THAT；'　he　said；　'and　think　of　my　Guard；　I　wish　that　I　had　perished　in　that　torrent　of　blood。'
  〃Yes；〃　said　Genestas；　looking　at　the　doctor　and　at　La　Fosseuse；　〃those　were　his　very　words。
  〃　'The　generals　who　counseled　you　not　to　charge　with　the　Guard；　and　who　hurried　you　into　your　traveling　carriage；　were　not　true　friends　of　yours；'　I　said。
  〃　'Come　with　me；'　he　cried　eagerly；　'the　game　is　not　ended　yet。'
  〃　'I　would　gladly　go　with　your　Majesty；　but　I　am　not　free；　I　have　a　motherless　child　on　my　hands　just　now。'
  〃And　so　it　happened　that　Adrien　over　there　prevented　me　from　going　to　St。　Helena。
  〃　'Stay；'　he　said；　'I　have　never　given　you　anything。　You　are　not　one　of　those　who　fill　one　hand　and　then　hold　out　the　other。　Here　is　the　snuff…box　that　I　have　used　though　this　last　campaign。　And　stay　on　in　France；　after　all；　brave　men　are　wanted　there！　Remain　in　the　service；　and　keep　me　in　remembrance。　Of　all　my　army　in　Egypt；　you　are　the　last　that　I　have　seen　still　on　his　legs　in　France。'　And　he　gave　me　a　little　snuff…box。
  〃　'Have　〃Honneur　et　patrie〃　engraved　on　it；'　he　said；　'the　history　of　our　last　two　campaigns　is　summed　up　in　those　three　words。'
  〃Then　those　who　were　going　out　with　him　came　up；　and　I　spent　the　rest　of　the　morning　with　them。　The　Emperor　walked　to　and　fro　along　the　beach；　there　was　not　a　sign　of　agitation　about　him；　though　he　frowned　from　time　to　time。　At　noon；　it　was　considered　hopeless　for　him　to　attempt　to　escape　by　sea。　The　English　had　found　out　that　he　was　at　Rochefort；　he　must　either　give　himself　up　to　them；　or　cross　the　breadth　of　France　again。　We　were　wretchedly　anxious；　the　minutes　seemed　like　hours！　On　the　one　hand　there　were　the　Bourbons；　who　would　have　shot　Napoleon　if　he　had　fallen　into　their　clutches；　and　on　the　other；　the　English；　a　dishonored　race：　they　covered　themselves　with　shame　by　flinging　a　foe　who　asked　for　hospitality　away　on　a　desert　rock；　that　is　a　stain　which　they　will　never　wash　away。　Whilst　they　were　anxiously　debating；　some　one　or　other　among　his　suite　presented　a　sailor　to　him；　a　Lieutenant　Doret；　who　had　a　scheme　for　reaching　America　to　lay　before　him。　As　a　matter　of　fact；　a　brig　from　the　States　and　a　merchant　vessel　were　lying　in　the　harbor。
  〃　'But　how　could　you　set　about　it；　captain？'　the　Emperor　asked　him。
  〃　'You　will　be　on　board　the　merchant　vessel；　Sire；'　the　man　answered。　'I　will　run　up　the　white　flag　and　man　the　brig　with　a　few　devoted　followers。　We　will　tackle　the　English　vessel；　set　fire　to　her；　and　board　her；　and　you　will　get　clear　away。'
  〃　'We　will　go　with　you！'　I　cried　to　the　captain。　But　Napoleon　looked　at　us　and　said；　'Captain　Doret；　keep　yourself　for　France。'
  〃It　was　the　only　time　I　ever　saw　Napoleon　show　any　emotion。　With　a　wave　of　his　hand　to　us　he　went　in　again。　I　watched　him　go　on　board　the　English　vessel；　and　then　I　went　away。　It　was　all　over　with　him；　and　he　knew　it。　There　was　a　traitor　in　the　harbor；　who　by　means　of　signals　gave　warning　to　the　Emperor's　enemies　of　his　presence。　Then　Napoleon　fell　back　on　a　last　resource；　he　did　as　he　had　been　wont　to　do　on　the　battlefield：　he　went　to　his　foes　instead　of　letting　them　come　to　him。　Talk　of　troubles！　No　words　could　ever　make　you　understand　the　misery　of　those　who　loved　him　for　his　own　sake。〃
  〃But　where　is　his　snuff…box？〃　asked　La　Fosseuse。
  〃It　is　in　a　box　at　Grenoble；〃　the　commandant　replied。
  〃I　will　go　over　to　see　it；　if　you　will　let　me。　To　think　that　you　have　something　in　your　possession　that　his　fingers　have　touched！　。　。　。　Had　he　a　well…shaped　hand？〃
  〃Very。〃
  〃Can　it　be　true　that　he　is　dead？　Come；　tell　me　the　real　truth？〃
  〃Yes；　my　dear　child；　he　is　dead；　there　is　no　doubt　about　it。〃
  〃I　was　such　a　little　girl　in　1815。　I　was　not　tall　enough　to　see　anything　but　his　hat；　and　even　so　I　was　nearly　crushed　to　death　in　the　crowd　at　Grenoble。〃
  〃Your　coffee　and　cream　is　very　nice　indeed；〃　said　Genestas。　〃Well；　Adrien；　how　do　you　like　this　country？　Will　you　come　here　to　see　mademoiselle？〃
  The　boy　made　no　answer；　he　seemed　afraid　to　look　at　La　Fosseuse。　Benassis　never　took　his　eyes　off　Adrien；　he　appeared　to　be　reading　the　lad's　very　soul。
  〃Of　course　he　will　come　to　see　her；〃　said　Benassis。　〃But　let　us　go　home　again；　I　have　a　pretty　long　round　to　make；　and　I　shall　want　a　horse。　I　daresay　you　and　Jacquotte　will　manage　to　get　on　together　whilst　I　am　away。〃
  〃Will　you　not　come　with　us？〃　said　Genestas　to　La　Fosseuse。
  〃Willingly；〃　she　answered；　〃I　have　a　lot　of　things　to　take　over　for　Mme。　Jacquotte。
  They　started　out　for　the　doctor's　house。　Her　visitors　had　raised　La　Fosseuse's　spirits；　she　led　the　way　along　narrow　tracks；　through　the　loneliest　parts　of　the　hills。
  〃You　have　told　us　nothing　about　yourself；　Monsieur　l'Officier；〃　she　said。　〃I　should　have　liked　to　hear　you　tell　us　about　some　adventure　in　the　wars。　I　liked　what　you　told　us　about　Napoleon　very　much；　but　it　made　me　feel　sad。　。　。　。　If　you　would　be　so　very　kind〃
  〃Quite　right！〃　Benassis　exclaimed。　〃You　ought　to　tell　us　about　some　thrilling　adventure　during　our　walk。　Come；　now；　something　really　interesting　like　that　business　of　the　beam　in　Beresina！〃
  〃So　few　of　my　recollections　are　worth　telling；〃　said　Genestas。　〃Some　people　come　in　for　all　kinds　of　adventures；　but　I　have　never　managed　to　be　the　hero　of　any　story。　Oh！　stop　a　bit　though；　a　funny　thing　did　once　happen　to　me。　I　was　with　the　Grand　Army　in　1805；　and　so；　of　course；　I　was　at　Austerlitz。　There　was　a　great　deal　of　skirmishing　just　before　Ulm　surrendered；　which　kept　the　cavalry　pretty　fully　occupied。　Moreover；　we　were　under　the　command　of　Murat；　who　never　let　the　grass　grow　under　his　feet。
  〃I　was　still　only　a　sub…lieutenant　in　those　days。　It　was　just　at　the　opening　of　the　campaign；　and　after　one　of　these　affairs；　that　we　took　possession　of　a　district　in　which　there　were　a　good　many　fine　estates；　so　it　fell　out　that　one　evening　my　regiment　bivouacked　in　a　park　belonging　to　a　handsome　chateau　where　a　countess　lived；　a　young　and　pretty　woman　she　was。　Of　course；　I　meant　to　lodge　in　the　house；　and　I　hurried　there　to　put　a　stop　to　pillage　of　any　sort。　I　came　into　the　salon　just　as　my　quartermaster　was　pointing　his　carbine　at　the　countess；　his　brutal　way　of　asking　for　what　she　certainly　could　not　give　the　ugly　scoundrel。　I　struck　up　his　carbine　with　my　sword；　the　bullet　went　through　a　looking…glass　on　the　wall；　then　I　dealt　my　gentleman　a　back…handed　blow　that　stretched　him　on　the　floor。　The　sound　of　the　s