Evening star., 1895-06-15

who has written book of history or me-
moirs There Is much which is unknown
by such people, and much which never will
be known by the world. For my own part,
1 could tell you some very surprising things
were K discreet to do SO. The facts which
l am about to relate to you tonight were
kept secret by me during the emperors
lifetime because 1 gave him my promise
that they should be, but 1 do not think
that there can be any harm now in my
telling the remarkable part which 1 PLAYED
You must know, then, that at the time
of the treaty of Tilsit 1 was simple lieu
tenant in the tenth hussars, without money
or interest. 1t Is true that my appearance
and my gallantry were in my favor, and
that had already won reputation as be-
Ing one of the best swordsmen in the army
but among the host of brave men who sur
rounded the emperor it needed more than
this to insure rapid career was conf
dent, however, that my chance would
come, though I never dreamed that 1t
would take SO remarkable form.
When the emperor returned to Paris after
the declaration of peace in the year 1907
he spent much of his time with the en-
press and the court at Fontainebleau. 1t
was the time when he was at the very pin
nacle Of his career. He had in three sue
cessive campaigns humbled Austria crush
ed Prussia, and hurled the Russian armies
across the Niemen. The old bulldog over
the channel was still growing but he
could not get very far from his kennel.
If we could have made a perpetual peace
at that moment France would have taken
q higher place than any nation since the
days of the Romans. So have heard tine
wise folks say. though, for my own part,
l had other things to think of. Ali the
girls were glad to see fhe army back after
Its long absence and you may be sure that
1 had my share of any favors which were
going. You may judge how far 1 was a
1avorite In those days when 1 say that
even now. In my sixtieth year-but why
should 1 dwell upon that which is already
sufficiently well known?
Our regiment of hussars was quartered
with the horse chasseurs of the guard at
Fontainebleau. 1t is, as you know, but a
little place buried In the heart of the forest.
ana 1t was wonderful at this time to see
II crowded with grand dukes and electors
and princes who thronged around Napo-
leon like puppies around their master, each
hoping that some bone might be thrown to
MIN. There was more German than French
to be heard in the street, for those who had
helped us In the late war had come to beg
Tor a reward. and those who had opposed
US had come to try and escape their punish
ment. And all the time our little man.
with his pale face and his cold gray eyes,
was riding to the hunt every morning, ST.
lent and brooding all of them following in
his train in the hope that some word would
escape him. And then when the humor
seized him he would throw a hundred
square miles TO that man or snip as much
on the other, round off one kingdom by a
river or curtail another by a chain of
mountains. That was how he used to do
business, this little artilleryman whom we
mad raised so high with our sabers and our
bayonets- He was very civil to US always
for he knew where his power came from
We knew, also. and showed it by the way
In which we carried ourselves. We were
agreed, you understand, that he was the
finest leader in the world. but we did not
forget that he had the finest men to lead
Well. one day l was seated in my quar-
ters playing cards with young Regnier of
the horse chasseurs, when the door open