The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-07-09


WHEN HE HEARD MY NAME SHOWED ME
STRAIGHT IN.
guns at Austerlitz, and two years had
passed since the battle. Or IL might be
that he wished to reward me for my affair
peror. But then, again, cold fit would
seize me, and would fancy that he had
sent for me to reprimand me. There
were a few duels which he might have
taken In i'll part, and there were one or
two little jokes in Paris since the peace.
But no! ! considered the words of La
salle "If he had need OF brave man, "
said Lasalle. Ii was obvious that my
colonel had some idea of what vas in the
wind. II he had not known that II was
TO my advantage he would not have been
so cruel as TO congratulate me. My
heart glowed with Joy as this conviction
grew upon me, and / sat down TO write to
my mother and to tell her that the En-
peror was waiting at that very moment
TO have my opinion upon natter OF inn
portance. Ii made me smile as / wrote it
to think that, wonderful as il appeared to
me, II would probably only confirm my
mother In her opinion of the Emperor's
good sense.
AT half past three heard q sabre come,
tldnkiHH uHdlHbt every HlcD Ol n1Ni
wooden stair IL was Lasalle, and with
him little gentleman very neatly dressed,
IN black, dapper ruffies and cuffs. We
did not know many civilians, we OF the,
army, but my word, this was one whom
we could not afford to ingefe 4
had only to glance at those twinkiing
eyes, the comical upturned nose, and the
straight precise mouth to know that L
was In the presence of the one man in
France whom even the Emperor had to
consider.
CHAPTER II.
"This Is Monsieur Etienne Gerard,
Monsieur de Talleyrand," said LasaIie.
saluted, and the statesman took me
in from the top Of my panache to ths
rowel Of my spur with a glance that
played over me like rrapier point
"Have you explained to the Lieutenant
the circumstances under which he Ii
summoned TO the Emperor's presence?i
he asked ip his dry, creakihg voice. &
They We're such a contrast, these two
men, that could not help glancing from
one to the other of them, the little, black,
sly politician and the big, sky-blue' Hus-
sar, with one fist on his hip and the other
on the hilt Of his sabre. They both took
their seats as j looked, Talleyrand with
out sound and Lasalle with a clash
and Jingle like prancing charger.
ITS this way, youngster," said he, in
his brusque fashion. 81 was with the
Emperor in his private cabinet this morn-
ing when note was brought in TO him.
He opened IL, and as he did so he gave
such start that 1t fiuttered down on 10
the floor. j handed 1t up to him again,
but he was staring at the wall in front OF
him, as IL he had seen a ghost. 'Fratelli
deli Ajaccio' he muttered, and then
again 'fratelli DELI Ajaccio i don't
pretend to know more Italian than a man
N MIR n In ttrD .i..s 4 n
could make nothing of this. II seemed to
mo that he had gone out of his mind, and
you would have said so also, Monsieur do
Talleyrand, IL you had seen the look in
his eyes. He read the note, and then he
sat for half an hour or more without
moving"
"And your" asked Talleyrand.
"Why, stood there not knowing what
1 ought TO do. Presently he seemed to
come back to his senses. Il suppose,
Lasalle, said he, that you have some
gallant young officers in the Tenth?'
They are oil that, sire, answered.
''If you had TO pick one who was TO be
dependent upon for action, but who
would not think too much-you under
stand me, Lasalle, which would you
selectP" he asked. | saw that he needed
an agent who would not penetrate too
deeply into his plans. Il have one, said
i, who Is all spurs and mustaches, with
never n thought beyond women and
horses. THAT is the man want said
Napoleon. Bring him TO my private
cabinet at o'clock So, yuungster,
came straight away TO you at once, and
mind that you do credit to the Tenth
/ was by no means flattered by the
reasons which had led to my colonel's
choice, and must have shown as much
I'm my face, for he roared with laughter,
and Talleyrand gave dry chuckle also.
"Just one word OF advice before you go,
Gerard, said he, you are now
coming into troubled waters, and you
might find worse pilot than myself
We have none OF us any idea rs to what
this little affair means, and, between our
selves, II Is very important for us, who
have the destinies of France upon our
shoulders, to keep ourselves I'm touch with
all that goes on. You understand me,
Monsieur Gersrdl'
| had not the least idea what he was
driving nt, but bowed and tried TO look
rs n II were clear TO me-
"Act very guardedly. then, and say
Colonel Lasalle and / viii not show our
solves In public with you, but we will
await you here, and we will give you
our advice when you have told us
what has passed between the Emperor
md yourself. II Is time that you started |
now, for the Emp oror never forgivcs un-
|
on went ON foot to the palace, which |
vas only a hundred PAGES of. | made |
ny way to the antechamber where Duroc, |