The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-06-11

"Col. Lasalle and I will not show our
selves 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 and
yourself. 1t is time that you started
now, for the Emperor never forgives
unpunctuality."
Off 1 went on foot to the pal
ace, which was only hundred
PAGES off. I made my way to the
antechamber, where Duroc, with
his grand. new scarlet-and-gold
coat, was fussing about among the
crowd of people who were waiting.
heard him whisper to Monsieur de Cau-
laincourt that half Of them were Ger
man dukes who expected to be made
kings and the other half German
dukes, who expected to be made pau
pers. Duroc, when he heard my name,
showed me straight in, and I found
myself in the Emperors presence. I
had, of course, seen him in camp a
hundred times, but l had never been
face to, face with him before. l have
no doubt that if you had met him with
out knowing in the least who he was
you would simply have said that he
was a sallow little fellow with good
forehead and fairly well-turned calves.
His tight white cashmere breeches and
white stockings showed off his legs to
advantage. But even stranger must
have been struck by the singular look
of his eyes, which could melt into ten
derest sympathy or harden into an ex-
preston which would frighten grena-
der. 1t is said that even Auguereau,
who was a man who had never known
what fear was, quailed before Napo-
Icons gaze, at a time, too, when the
Emperor was but an unknown soldier
He looked mildly enough at me, how
ever, and motioned me to remain by
the door De Meneval was writing to
his dictation, looking up at him be-
tween each sentence with his spaniel
eyes.
"That will do; you can CO." said the
emperor abruptly. Then, when the
secretary had left the room, he strobe
across with his hands behind his back,
and he looked me UP and down with
out a word. Though he was small
man himself, he was very fond of hav-
ing fine-looking fellows about him, and
50 l think that my appearance gave
him pleasure. For my own part
raised one hand to the salute and held
the other upon the hilt Of my sabre,
looking straight ahead of me, as q
soldier should
"Well, Monsieur Gerard" said he at
last, tapping his foreflnger upon one of
the brandebourgs of gold braid upon
the front of my pelisse. II am in
formed that you are a very deserving
young officer. Your colonel gives me
an excellent account Of you"
I wished to make, a brilliant reply,
but I could think Of nothing save La
salle's phrase that was all spurs and
moustaches, SO: 1t ended in my saying
nothing at all. The emperor watched
the struggle, which must have shown
itself upon my features, and when
finally no answer came he did not ap-
pear to be displeased.
II believe that you are the very
man that 1 want. said he. Brave
and clever men surround me upon
every side. But brave man who
He did not finish his sentence, and for
my own part, could not understand
what he was driving at. l contented
myself with assuring him that he
could count upon me to the death.
"You are, as I understand, a good
swordsman." said he
"Tolerable, SIRE" answered.
You were chosen by your regiment