Tom Burke Of "Ours" Volume Ii Part 37

"The traits you would attribute to him," said I, "are not those of strength, but weakness. Is it the conqueror of Egypt, of Austria, and now of Prussia, who need stoop to this? We cannot be judges of his policy, or the great events which agitate Europe. We would p.r.o.nounce most ignorantly on the greatness of his plans regarding the destinies of nations; but, on a mere question of high and honorable feeling, of manly honesty, why should we not speak? And here I say this act was never his."

A smile of sardonic meaning was the only reply this speech met with; and one by one the officers rose and dropped off, leaving me to ponder over the discussion, in which I now remembered I had been betrayed into a warmth beyond discretion.

This took place early in November; and as it was not referred to in any way afterwards by my comrades, I soon forgot it. My duties occupied me from morning till night; for General d'Auvergne, being in attendance on the Emperor, had handed me over for the time to the department of the adjutant-general of the army, where my knowledge of German was found useful.

On the 17th of the month a general order was issued, containing the names of the various officers selected for promotion, as well as of those on whom the cross of the "Legion" was to be conferred. Need I say with what a thrill of exultation I read my own name among the latter, nor my delight at finding it followed by the words, "By order of his Majesty the Emperor, for a special service on the 13th October, 1806."

This was the night before the battle; and now I saw that I had not been forgotten, as I feared,--here was proof of the Emperor's remembrance of me. Perhaps the delay was intended to test my prudence as to secrecy; and perhaps it was deemed fitting that my name should not appear except in the general list: in any case, the long-wished reward was mine,--the proud distinction I had desired for so many a day and night.

The distribution of the "cordons" was always made the occasion of a grand military spectacle, and the Emperor determined that the present one should convey a powerful impression of the effective strength of his army, as well as of its perfect equipment; and accordingly orders were despatched to the different generals of division within twelve or fifteen leagues of Berlin, to march their corps to the capital. The 28th of November was the day fixed for this grand display, and all was bustle and preparation for the event.

On the morning of the 22d, I received an official note from the bureau of the adjutant-general desiring me to wait on him before noon that same day. Concluding it referred to my promised promotion to the "Legion," it was with somewhat of a fluttered and excited feeling I found myself, at some few minutes after eleven o'clock, in the antechamber, which already was crowded with officers, some seeking, some summoned to an interview.

In the midst of the buzz of conversation, which, despite the reserve of the place, still prevailed, I heard my name called, and followed an aide-de-camp along a pa.s.sage into a large room, which opened into a smaller apartment, where, standing with his back to the fire, I perceived Marshal Berthier, his only companion being an officer in a staff uniform, busily engaged writing at a table.

"You are Captain Burke, of the Eighth Hussars, I believe, sir?" said the marshal, reading slowly from a slip of paper he held twisted round one finger.

"Yes, sir."

"By birth an Irishman," continued the marshal; "entered at the Polytechnique in August, 1801. Am I correct?" I bowed. "Subsequently accused of being concerned in the conspiracy of Georges and Pichegru,"

resumed he, as he raised his eyes slightly from the paper, and fixed them searchingly upon me.

"Falsely so, sir," was my only reply.

"You were acquitted,--that's enough: a reprimand for imprudence, and a slight punishment of arrest, was all. Since that time, you have conducted yourself, as the report of your commanding officer attests, with zeal and steadiness."

He paused here, and seemed as if he expected me to say something; but as I thought the whole a most strange commencement to the ceremony of investing me with a cross of the Legion, I remained silent.

"At Paris, when attached to the _elite_, you appear to have visited the d.u.c.h.ess of Montserrat, and frequented her soirees."

"Once, sir; but once I was in the house of the d.u.c.h.ess. My visit could scarcely have occupied as many minutes as I have spent here this morning."

"Dined occasionally at the 'Moisson d'Or," continued the marshal, not noticing in any way my reply. "Well, as I believe you are now aware that there are no secrets with his Majesty's Government, perhaps you will inform me what are your relations with the Chevalier d.u.c.h.esne?"

For some minutes previous my mind was dwelling on that personage; and I answered the question in a few words, by stating the origin of our acquaintance, and briefly adverting to its course.

"You correspond with the chevalier?" said he, interrupting.

"I have never done so; nor is it likely, from the manner in which we parted last, that I ever shall."

"This scarcely confirms that impression, sir," said the marshal, taking an open letter from the table and holding it up before me. "You know his handwriting; is that it?"

"Yes; I have no doubt it is."

"Well, sir, that letter belongs to you; you may take and read it.

There is enough there, sir, to make your conduct the matter of a court-martial; but I am satisfied that a warning will be sufficient.

Let this be such then. Learn, sir, that the plottings of a poor and mischievous party harmonize ill with the duties of a brave soldier; and that a captain of the Guards might choose more suitable a.s.sociates than the dupes and double-dealers of the Faubourg St. Germain. There is your brevet to the 'Legion,' signed by the Emperor. I shall return it to his Majesty; mayhap at some future period your conduct may merit differently. I need hardly say that a gentleman so very little particular in the choice of his friends would be a most misplaced subject for the honor of the 'Legion.'"

He waved his hand in sign for me to withdraw, and overwhelmed with confusion, I bowed and left the room. Nor was it till the door closed behind me that I felt how cruelly and unjustly I had been treated; then suddenly the blood rushed to my face and temples, my head seemed as if it would burst at either side, and forgetting every circ.u.mstance of place and condition, I seized the handle of the door and wrenched it open.

"Marshal," said I, with the fearlessness of one resolved at any risk to vindicate his character, "I know nothing of this letter; I have not read one line of it. I have no further intimacy with the writer than an officer has with his comrade; but if I am to be the subject of espionage to the police,--if my chance acquaintances in the world are to be matter of charges against my fealty and honor,--if I, who have nothing but my sword and my epaulette--"

When I had got thus far I saw the marshal's face turn deadly pale, while the officer at the table made a hurried sign to me with his finger to be silent. The door closed nearly at the same instant, and I turned my head round, and there stood the Emperor. The figure is still before me; he was standing still, his hands behind his back, and his low chapeau deeply pressed upon his brows. His gray frock was open, and looked as if disordered from haste.

"What is this?" said he, in that hissing tone he always a.s.sumed when in moments of pa.s.sion,--"what is this? Are we in the bureau of a minister?

or is it the _salle de police?_ Who are you, sir?"

It was not until the question had been repeated that I found courage to reply. But he waited not for my answer, as, s.n.a.t.c.hing the open letter from my fingers, he resumed,--

"It is not thus, sir, you should come here. Your pet.i.tion or memorial-- Ha! _parbleu!_ what is this?"

At the instant his eyes fell upon the writing, and as suddenly his face grew almost livid. With the rapidity of lightning he seemed to peruse the lines. Then waving his hand, he motioned towards the door, and muttered,--"Wait without!"

Like one awaking from a dreadful dream, I stood, endeavoring to recall my faculties, and a.s.sure myself how much there might be of reality in my wandering fancies, when I perceived that a portion of the letter remained between my fingers as the Emperor s.n.a.t.c.hed it from my hand.

A half-finished sentence was all I could make out; but its tone made me tremble for what the rest of the epistle might contain:--

"Surpa.s.sed themselves, of course, my dear Burke; and so has the Emperor too. It remained for the campaign in Prussia to prove that one hundred and eighty-five thousand prisoners can be taken from an army numbering one hundred and fifty-four thousand men. As to Davoust, who really had all the fighting, though he wrote no bulletin, all Paris feels--"

Such was the morsel I had saved; such a specimen of the insolence of the entire.

The dreadful fact then broke suddenly upon me that this letter had been written by d.u.c.h.esne to effect my ruin; and as I stood stupefied with terror, the door was suddenly opened, and the Emperor pa.s.sed, out.

His eyes were turned on me as he went, and I shrank back from their expression of withering anger.

"Captain Burke!" said a voice from within the room, for the door continued open.

I entered slowly, but with a firm step. My mind was made up; and in the force of a resolute determination, I found strength for whatever might happen.

"It would appear, sir," said the marshal, addressing me with a stern and severe expression of features, "it would appear that you permit yourself the widest liberty in canva.s.sing the acts of his Majesty the Emperor; for I find you here mentioned "--he took a paper from the table as he spoke--"as declaiming, in a public cafe, on the subject of the Prince de Hatzfeld, and expressing, in no measured terms, your disapproval of his imprisonment."

"All that I said upon the subject, sir, so far as I can recollect, was in praise of the Emperor for clemency so well bestowed."

"There was no high-flown sentiment on the breach of honorable confidence effected in opening private letters?" said the marshal, sarcastically.

"Yes, sir; I do remember expressing myself strongly on that head."

"I am not surprised, sir," interrupted he, "at your indignation; your own conscience must have prompted you on the occasion. When a gentleman has such correspondents as the Chevalier d.u.c.h.esne, he may well feel on a point like this. But enough of this. I have his Majesty's orders regarding you, which are as follows--"

"Forgive me, I beg you, sir, the liberty of interrupting you for one moment. I am an alien, and therefore little versed in the habits and usages of the land for whose service I have shed my blood; but I am sure a marshal of France will not refuse a kindness to an officer of the army, however humble his station. I merely ask the answer to one question."

"What is it?" said the marshal, quickly.

"Am I, as an officer, at liberty to resign my grade, and quit the service?"

"Yes, _parbleu!_" said he, reddening, "yes, that you are."

"Then here I do so," rejoined I, drawing my sword from its scabbard.

"The career I can no longer follow honorably and independently, I shall follow no more."