The Exploits of Brigadier Gerard

stake than this, for I have always observed that really fine soldiers are free from this failing. It is true that I have had to depict myself sometimes as brave, sometimes as full of resource, alway

that only a modest man would describe. After all, when one has attained such a positio

ommissariat fourgons would not have sufficed to carry the fingers and the toes which the army had shed during that retreat. Still, lean and crippled as we were, we had much to be thankful for when we thought of our poor comrades whom we had left behind, and of the snowfields — the horrible, horrible snowfields. To this day, my friends, I do not care to see red a

ible men, these forty thousand: men of iron, eaters of horses, and sleepers in the snow; filled, too, with rage and bitterness against the Russians. Th

see the state to which they were reduced. ‘But, courage,’ I thought, ‘they have lost much, but their Colonel is still left to them.’ I set to work, therefore, to repair their disasters, and had already cons

claim. I would have given my place to any who had wives and children whom they might not see again. However, there is no arguing when the blue paper with the little red seal arrives, so within an hour I was off upon my great ride from the Elbe to the Vosges. At last I was to have a period of q

performed which were the wonder and the despair of Europe. But now the starving men had to be made robust once more, and I was forced to draw into the ditch continually as the Coburg sheep and the Bavarian bullocks came streaming past with waggon loads of Berlin beer and good French cognac. Sometimes, too, I would hear the dry r

w wayfarers between there and Greiz, and the road wound through groves of oaks and beeches, which shot their branches across the path. You will think it strange that a Colonel of hussars should again and again p

ving made a little free with their country. We had shown kindnesses to the men and received them from the women, so that good, comfortable Germany was a second home to all of us. But now there was something which I could not understand in the behaviour of the people. The travellers made no answer to my salute

e some little compliment, or possibly a kiss, to the maid who served me; but this one would have neither the one nor the other, but darted a glance at me like a bayonet-thrust. Then when I raised my glass to the folk who drank their beer

carved upon a tree. I had already seen more than one in my morning’s ride, but I had given no thought to them until the words of the beer-drin

sir,’ said I, ‘wha

said he, ‘it is not the letter N.’ Then before I could ask further he clap

ror’s mark. And those T’s meant something which was opposite to it. Things had been happening in Germany, then, during our absence, and the giant sleeper had begun to stir. I thought of the mutinous faces that I had seen, and I felt tha

very open at this point, and beside the road there lay a great heap of fagots. As I passed there came a sharp sound from among them, and, glancing round, I saw a face looking out at me — a

retend to be mending the stirrup leather. Spies may be watc

whispered.

. You Frenchmen are living on a powder magazine,

I, still fumbling at the leathers of

great rising which is to drive you out of Germ

e T’s sta

ge, but I dared not be seen speaking with you. I galloped through

he more so as you are the only German that I hav

aid he. ‘Your Emperor has been a good friend to me. But I beg that you will rid

tti?’

sake ride forwards, for I have risked my life and exp

face, and his eyes glancing swiftly to right and left, and opening in horror whenever a branch cracked upon a tree. It was clear that he was in the last extremity of terror, and it is possible that he had cause, for sh

ke it very much to heart, for the Germans had always seemed to me to be a kindly, gentle people, whose hands closed more readily round a pipe-stem than a sword-hilt — not out of want of valour, you understand, but because they

to an oak wood. I may have been half-way up the hill when, looking forward, I saw something gleaming under the shadow of the tree-trunks, and a man came out with a coat which was so slashed and spangled with gold that he b

irection and came slowly onwards, stopping from time to time and swaying about as he gazed at me. Suddenly, as I again advanced, he screamed out his thanks to Christ, and, lurching forwards, he fell with a crash upon the dusty

rang to his aid. ‘And I th

nk Heaven that I have seen a French offic

at. All round us was the vast countryside, green and peaceful, wi

what are you? You are French, and

e of France. I have been pursued and wounded by the night-riders of Lutzow, but I hid among the brushwood yonder, and waited in the hope that a Fr

I; ‘I have seen a man with a worse

deadly enemy. She is striving to make him declare against us. If he does so, it will determine all those who are wavering, for the King of Prussia is his uncle and the King of Bavaria his cousin. These papers will hold him to us if they can only reach him before he takes the last step. Place them in

o attract those young aristocrats from whom he hoped to raise these new regiments of his Guard. It was a small packet of papers which I drew out, tied up with silk, and addressed to the Prince of Saxe-Felstein. In the corner, in a sprawling, untidy hand, which I knew to be the Emperor’s own, was written: ‘Pressing and most important.’ It was an o

came to look upon my map, however, I saw that Hof lay further to the south of me, and that I might reach it more directly by keeping to the moors. Off I set, therefore, and had not gone fifty yards before two carbine shots rang ou

te of all Germany beneath the buttons of his pelisse. And I— I had long borne the name of being the best horseman in the six brigades of light cavalry, but I never rode as I rode then. My friend the Bart had told me of how they hunt the fox in England, but the swiftest fox would have been captured by me that d

acrifice, and I thought no more of my life than of

low, and his day’s work done, so that it would be an hour at the least before I could hope to push on to Hof. Cursing at the delay, I strode into the village inn and ordered a cold chicken and some wine to be served for my dinner. It was but a fe

t that it was some brawl between peasants in their cups, and I left them to settle their own affairs. But of a sudden there broke from among the low, sullen growl of the voices such a sound as would send Eti

pale cheeks and terror in her eyes, stood the loveliest woman that ever a soldier would wish to look upon. With her queenly head thrown back, and a touch of defiance mingled with her fear, she looked as she gazed round her like a

entleman!’ she cried. ‘

nd in mine in order that I might reassure her. ‘You have only to command

hey abuse me because I love the French. I do not know what th

ns. Then I turned upon the crew with such an expression a

wine is necessary to restore you.’ I offered her my arm and escorted her into my roo

hard to find a finer pair of whiskers. Murat’s may have been a shade longer, but the best judges are agreed that Murat’s were a shade too long. And then I had a manner. Some women are to be approached in one way and some in another, just as a siege is an affair of fascines and gabions in hard weather and of trenches in soft. But the man who can mix daring with

wn affairs she questioned me about the army, and so came round to myself and my own exploits. They were familiar to her, she said, for she knew several of Poniatowski’s officers, and they had spoken of my doings. Yet she would be glad to hear them from my own lips. Never have I had so delightful a conversation. Most women make the mi

ied, springing to my feet, ‘but

a pale, reproachful face. ‘And me?’

ave already stayed far too long.

d I ever meet you? Why did you ever teach me to rely upon your strength?

t. I smoothed her rich brown hair and whispered such consolations as I could think of in her ear, with one arm round her, it is true, b

hed furiously from the room, hunting from chamber to chamber for a carafe. It was some minutes before I c

atter, had never seen the woman before, and did not care if he never saw her again. Had the peasants at the door seen anyone ride away? No, they had seen nobody. I searched here an

ispered kind words into her ear, her hands had been at work beneath my dolman. And here I was, at the very last step of my journey, without the power of carrying out this mission which had already deprived one good man of his life, and was likely to rob another one of his credit. What w

rn who she was and where my papers had gone. I snatched my sabre from the table and rushed out in search of him. But the scoundrel had guessed what I would do, and had made his preparations for me. It was in the corner of the

orse is at the door, and no one will meddle with you if you go your wa

at of this fat rascal, still I should have no means of knowing whether that answer was the truth. It would be a struggle, then, with much to lose and nothing certain to gain. I looked them up and do

lips to the Prince of Saxe-Felstein, as though the Emperor had commissioned me to convey it in that way. It was a bold stroke and a dangerous one, but if I went too

wded streets, and once a stone sang past my head, but I kept upon my way, neither slowing nor quickening my pace, until I came to the palace. It was lit from base to battlement, and the dark shadows, coming and going against the yellow

h, as my instincts told me, was to decide this very question of war and peace. It was possible that I might still be in time to turn the scale for the Emperor and for France. As to the major-domo, he l

t been warned that she was German in heart and soul, and that

nce that I mus

nto the chamber. ‘Von Rosen, you had best stay with us. Now, sir, what i

rilled with anger. Not twice in a lifetime does one meet that noble figure, that quee

with an impatient tap of her foo

y, save that you have taught me never to trust a wom

arched brows a

come from some less innocent cause?’ sa

cried. ‘You have sh

that we hav

ve robbed me within

of anger. ‘You claim, as I understand, to be an ambassador, but the

one night.’ I sprang forward and, stooping down, caught up the hem of her dress. ‘Yo

now-peak to see her ivory che

ll the foresters and have

e the Prin

e Prince. Ah! Hold him

face to face with him at any cost. One spring took me out of the chamber. In another I had crossed the hall. An instant later I had burst into the great room from which the murmur of the meeting had come. At the far end I saw a

I shouted. ‘I bear his message to His

is face was thin and wan, and that his back was bowed as t

e, sir?’

e Gerard, of th

nto the Prince’s ear. For my own part I threw out my chest and curled my moustache, glancing round in my own debonair fashion at the assembly. They were men, all of them, professors from the college, a sprinkling of their students, soldiers, gentlemen, artisans, all very

e that it is the Marquis Chateau St Arnaud wh

a buzz rose up from the people as I spoke. Many heads we

r papers?’ ask

ave

deep voice from the corner, and a dozen others took up the shout. For my part, I drew out my handkerchief

ur credentials, and

ntial, and my message i

an who is at his wits’ end what to do. The Princess stood beside

said he. ‘I have no secrets from them, and whatever message the Emperor

f, for it is one thing to address eight hundred hussars, and another to speak to such an audience on such a subject. But I fixed my eyes upo

yes are fixed upon you, and though you can do little to harm him, you can ruin yourself. At this moment he is crossing the Rhine with two hundred thousand men. Every fortress in the country is in his hands. He will be upon you in a week, and if you have played him false, God help bo

y dolman as though my regiment was picketed outside in the courtyard. They listened to me in silence, but the back of the Prince

for France,’ said he. ‘Let us h

ad its effect, and no man wished to be the first to commit himself in the eyes of the Emper

‘Is it possible, then, that among the night-riders of Lutzo

He had the face of one inspired — pale, eager, with wild hawk eyes, and tangled ha

. ‘It is young Korner, the poet!

mpet-call. It was of the Germany of now, the Germany which had been taken unawares and overthrown, but which was up again, and snapping the bonds upon her giant limbs. What was life that one should covet it? What

howled. They were up on the chairs and the tables. They were raving, sobbing, the tears running down their faces. Korner had sprung from the cha

ch you are to carry to your Emperor. The die is cast, my

nd so I was not sorry to be carried out amid the stream. Why should I linger in the palace? I had had my answer and must carry it, such as it was. I wished neither to see Hof

r, when suddenly my two arms were seized from behind. There were hands at my

ench dog,’ whispered a fierce

ou the

e it

t over h

had come out and was gazing upon the scene. In its dim light I saw stern faces breakin

o with him, capta

at the pal

mbass

ador witho

the P

l be beyond all hope of forgiveness. At present he may swing round tomorrow as he ha

z, we cannot do it,’

dle which nearly pulled me to the ground. At the same instant a sword

y,’ cried the captain. ‘You may hang y

the young poet. ‘Blood may dim its blade, but never dishonour.

riends and my foes were about equally balanced. But the angry voices

hey cried. ‘The P

ed me then and thrills me now to think that my arms have embraced her, and that I have felt the scent of her hair in my nostrils. I know not whether she lies under her

neck. ‘You are fighting in God’s own quarrel, and yet you would begin with such a devil’s de

to the darkness before those scornful

erard,’ she said. ‘I have a w

originally been shown. She closed the door, and th

id she. ‘You will remember that it is the Princess of Sa

dy whom I believed to be in distress, and I have been r

e which was never given to you that you would stand at nothing in the cause of your country. My heart is German and yours is French, and

othing that I

ch I pretended in the inn of Lobenstein, I should never wish to meet a more gallant protector or a truer-hearted gentleman than Colone

ok them, no

which they contained and the effect which they would have upon

hen a score of these brigands, who wished to hang me a

of Prussia downwards. As to why I did not have you waylaid upon the road, I may say that I had parties out on all sides, and that I was waiting at Lobenstein to hear of their success. When instead

our Highness, and it only remains for me

eturn these to the Emperor, and tell him that we refused to receive them. No one can accuse you then of having lost your despatches. Good-bye, Colonel Gerard, and

ts there came back to me always the proud, beautiful face of the German woman, and the voice of the soldier-poet as he sang from the chair. And I understood then that there was something terrible in this strong, patient Germany — this mother root