He was sometimes called the General, and
sometimes by a name too ill-mannered for repetition. As we all sat
listening, this man's hand was laid on my shoulder, and his voice
whispered in my ear: 'If you don't go, I'll have you hanged,
Marquis!'
As soon as the round was past--'Certainly, gentlemen!' said I. 'I
will give you a lead, with all the pleasure in the world. But,
first of all, there is a hound here to be punished. M. Clausel has
just insulted me, and dishonoured the French army; and I demand
that he run the gauntlet of this shed.'
There was but one voice asking what he had done, and, as soon as I
had told them, but one voice agreeing to the punishment. The
General was, in consequence, extremely roughly handled, and the
next day was congratulated by all who saw him on his NEW
DECORATIONS. It was lucky for us that he was one of the prime
movers and believers in our project of escape, or he had certainly
revenged himself by a denunciation. As for his feelings towards
myself, they appeared, by his looks, to surpass humanity; and I
made up my mind to give him a wide berth in the future.
Had I been to go down that instant, I believe I could have carried
it well. But it was already too late--the day was at hand. The
rest had still to be summoned. Nor was this the extent of my
misfortune; for the next night, and the night after, were adorned
with a perfect galaxy of stars, and showed every cat that stirred
in a quarter of a mile.
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