Waterbury evening Democrat., 1892-11-15

in his opinion could be cured only by \ giving it a master.
 was trying to suppress a yawn, for at that time French politics did not in- terest me much, when a hand was laid lightly on my shoulder.
 Turning round, found myself in the presence of Citoyen Carmine, the gov ernor of the prison, and gentleman In military uniform. ''1 beg your pardon, Citizen Roy" said the governor, respectfully, "but here is le Capitaine Lacluse, aide-Ie- camp of Gen. Bonaparte. He desires to | speak to you"
 And with that the governor, though he remained within hail, left us to our selves, as did also De Gex. | Capt Lacluse bowed, I bowed, and each protested that he was delighted to make the others acquaintance.
 This ceremony over, the captain ex- plained that he came on behalf of Mime. l Bonaparte, who sent her compliments and would be glad to see me at her house in the Rue de la Victoire (so called in honor of Bonaparte). "But will the governor let me goq'' I asked.
 "I think so. But we will soon ascer- tain. What say you, Citizen Carmine? will you allow your English prisoner to accompany me to the house of Mime. Bonaparte2"
 Have you brought an order from Barras or Bottot2''
 ''No; merely verbal invitation from the wife of the conqueror of Italy; and dare say that Citizen Roy will give us his parole not to escape while he is in my charge"
 'That Is enough. You may go," said the governor, when had given my pa- role.
 After making myself presentable by donning the handsomest suit of multi In my tea-chest (which Wharton had thoughtfully sent ashore with the car tel), we left the prison, and were driven to the Rue de la Victoire in carriage which the aide-de-camp had in waiting at the door.
 When we arrived at Gen. Bonaparte's house, Capt. Lacluse knocked at the door, and, after whispering something in the ear of the servant who opened it, went away, saying that he would re- turn in an hour. When he was gone the servant ushered me into a salon, and, after in viting me to be seated and saying that he would inform Mime. Bonaparte of my arrival, left me to myself. It was large room and handsomely furnished. and on the walls hung sev- eral fine paintings, which fancied the general had brought with him from Italy.
 While was looking at one of them battle scene, If remember rightly heard the door open, and. turning round, saw coming towards me gen. tleman dressed iu some sort of civic uniform. He had a sallow skin and sunlzen cheeks; his dark hair, long at the back, was cut short in front and plastered on his forehead with pomatum. This gave him a singular and almost a sinister look; but he had square jaws and a resolute mouth, wonderfully well- cut features, and the most piercing black eyes ever SEW. In person he was insignificant, his meager little body and short neck contrasting strangely with his large head and dark powerful face.
 "Who are you2'' he asked, abruptly, almost rudely indeed.
 "Lieut. Roy, late his Brittanic maj esty's ship Sylph, now prisoner of war"
 "Why are you in Paris?'
 ''I was sent here from Havre, be- ieve by order of the government"
 "Ah! think have heard something about you. You are the man who tried to cut out Le Bonnet Rouge from un- der the guns of heavily armed fort"
 ''I did cut her out, and if 1t had not zG r should have carried her off. But did nearly as well-threw all her guns overheard and ran her aground"
 knew, of course, that I was talking to Gen. Bonaparte, and.I guessed that he knew all about me; but, as he evi- dently desired to keep his incognito, I thought it expedient to fall in with his whim, and make as if I did not recog- nize him.
 &'How many men had you?"
 Twenty"
 "And the brig?"
 "Her full complement would be about two hundred"
 "And yet you dared to attack her with twenty!"
 'Why nnt2 If you begin to count odds in war you will do nothing If Give had counted odds at Plassey the English would never have won India; if your Gen. Bonaparte had counted odds at Arcola he would not have con- quered Italy,"
 "You are right. It is audacity that wins L'audace, toujours Paudace, as Danton said. But they say you played the spy and were in league with the royalists."
 ''They say what is not true, then. I merely reconnoitred the harbor in 8 fishing boat; while of the royalists I know nothing whatever; and we have had no communication with the shore except openly and under a flag of truce"
 "Well, I only tell you what I have heard. How old are you?"
 ''Twenty-one."
 ''You are very young to be a first lieutenant and intrusted with an inde- pendent command"
 EEYouth is no mora a ba1 to Y,rouo-