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stirrups was too long； he called a soldier to shorten it； and during this
operation placed his leg on his horse's neck； a cannon…ball whizzed by；
killed the soldier； and cut off the stirrup； without touching the marshal
or his horse。 〃There；〃 said he； 〃now I shall have to get down and change
my saddle；〃 which observation the marshal made in a jesting tone。
The surgeon and his assistants conducted themselves admirably on this
terrible day； and displayed a zeal equal to every emergency； combined
with an activity which delighted the Emperor so much； that several times；
in passing near them； he called them 〃my brave surgeons。〃 M。 Larrey
above all was sublime。 After having attended to all the wounded of the
guard； who were crowded together on the Island of Lobau； he asked if
there was any broth to give them。 〃No；〃 replied the assistants。 〃Have
some made；〃 said he； 〃have some made of that group；〃 pointing to several
horses near him； but these horses belonged to a general； and when it was
attempted to carry out M。 Larrey's orders； the owner indignantly refused
to allow them to be taken。 〃Well； take mine then；〃 said the brave
soldier； 〃and have them killed； in order that my comrades may have
broth。〃 This was done； and as no pots could be found on the island it
was boiled in helmets； and salted with cannon powder in place of salt。
Marshal Massena tasted this soup； and thought it very good。 One hardly
knows which to admire most；the zeal of the surgeons； the courage with
which they confronted danger in caring for the wounded on the field of
battle； and even in the midst of the conflict； or the stoical constancy
of the soldiers； who； lying on the ground； some without an arm； some
without a leg； talked over their campaigns with each other while waiting
to be operated on； some even going so far as to show excessive
politeness。 〃M。 Docteur； begin with my neighbor； he is suffering more
than I。 I can wait。〃
A cannoneer had both legs carried away by a ball； two of his comrades
picked him up and made a litter with branches of trees； on which they
placed him in order to convey him to the island。 The poor mutilated
fellow did not utter a single groan； but murmured； 〃I am very thirsty；〃
from time to time； to those who bore him。 As they passed one of the
bridges； he begged them to stop and seek a little wine or brandy to
restore his strength。 They believed him； and did as he requested； but
had not gone twenty steps when the cannoneer called to them； 〃Don't go so
fast； my comrades； I have no legs； and I will reach the end of my journey
sooner than you。 'Vive la France；'〃 and； with a supreme effort； he
rolled off into the Danube。
The conduct of a surgeon…major of the guard； some time after； came near
compromising the entire corps in his Majesty's opinion。 This surgeon； M。
M； lodged with General Dorsenne and some superior officers in a
pretty country seat； belonging to the Princess of Lichtenstein； the
concierge of the house being an old German who was blunt and peculiar；
and served them with the greatest repugnance； making them as
uncomfortable as possible。 In vain； for instance； they requested of him
linen for the beds and table； he always pretended not to hear。
General Dorsenne wrote to the princess； complaining of this condition of
affairs； and in consequence she no doubt gave orders； but the general's
letter remained unanswered； and several days passed with no change of
affairs。 They had had no change of napkins for a month； when the general
took a fancy to give a grand supper； at which Rhenish and Hungarian wine
were freely indulged in； followed by punch。 The host was highly
complimented； but with these praises were mingled energetic reproaches on
the doubtful whiteness of the napery； General Dorsenne excusing himself
on the score of the ill…humor and sordid economy of the concierge； who
was a fit exponent of the scant courtesy shown by the princess。 〃That is
unendurable！〃 cried the joyous guests in chorus。 〃This hostess who so
completely ignores us must be called to order。 Come； M； take pen and
paper and write her some strong epigrams； we must teach this princess of
Germany how to live。 French officers and conquerors sleeping in rumpled
sheets； and using soiled napkins！ What an outrage！〃 M。 M was only too
faithful an interpreter of the unanimous sentiments of these gentlemen；
and under the excitement of the fumes of these Hungarian wines wrote the
Princess of Lichtenstein a letter such as during the Carnival itself one
would not dare to write even to public women。 How can I express what
must have been Madame Lichtenstein's horror on reading this production；
an incomprehensible collection of all the low expressions that army slang
could furnish！ The evidence of a third person was necessary to convince
her that the signature； M； Surgeon…major of the Imperial French
Guard； was not the forgery of some miserable drunkard。 In her profound
indignation the princess hastened to General Andreossy； his Majesty's
Governor of Vienna； showed him this letter； and demanded vengeance。
Whereupon the general； even more incensed than she； entered his carriage；
and； proceeding to Schoenbrunn； laid the wonderful production before the
Emperor。 The Emperor read it； recoiled three paces； his cheeks reddened
with anger； his whole countenance was disturbed； and in a terrible tone
ordered the grand marshal to summon M。 M； while every one waited in
trembling suspense。
〃Did you write this disgusting letter？〃〃Sire。〃〃Reply； I order you；
was it you？〃〃Yes； Sire； in a moment of forgetfulness； after a supper。〃
〃Wretch！〃 cried his Majesty； in such a manner as to terrify all who
heard him。 〃You deserve to be instantly shot！ Insult a woman so basely！
And an old woman too。 Have you no mother？ I respect and honor every old
woman because she reminds me of my mother！〃〃Sire； I am guilty； I admit；
but my repentance is great。 Deign to remember my services。 I have
followed you through eighteen campaigns； I am the father of a family。〃
These last words only increased the anger of his Majesty。 〃Let him be
arrested！ Tear off his decorations； he is unworthy to wear them。 Let
him be tried in twenty…four hours。〃 Then turning to the generals； who
stood stupefied and immovable around him； he exclaimed； 〃Look； gentlemen！
read this！ See how this blackguard addresses a princess； and at the very
moment when her husband is negotiating a peace with me。〃
The parade was very short that day； and as soon as it was ended； Generals
Dorsenne and Larrey hastened to Madame Lichtenstein； and； describing to
her the scene which had just taken place； made her most humble apologies；
in the name of the Imperial Guard； and at the same time entreated her to
intercede for the unfortunate fellow； who deserved blame； no doubt； but
who was not himself when he wrote the offensive epistle。 〃He repents
bitterly； Madame；〃 said good M。 Larrey； 〃he weeps over his fault； and
bravely awaits his punishment； esteeming it a just reparation of the
insult to you。 But he is one of the best officers of the army； he is
beloved and esteemed； he has saved the life of thousands； and his
distinguished talents are the only fortune his family possesses。 What
will become of them if he is shot？〃〃Shot！〃 exclaimed the princess；
〃shot！ Bon…Dieu！ would the matter be carried as far as that？〃 Then
General Dorsenne described to her the Emperor's resentment as
incomparably deeper than her own； and the princess； much moved；
immediately wrote the Emperor a letter； in which she expressed herself as
grateful； and fully satisfied with the reparation which had already been
made； and entreated him to pardon M。 M
His Majesty read the letter； but made no reply。 The princess was again
visited； and she had by this time become so much alarmed that she
regretted exceedingly having shown the letter of M。 M to the general；
and； having decided at any cost to obtain the surgeon's pardon； she
addressed a petition to the Emperor； which closed with this sentence；
expressing angelic forgiveness： 〃Sire； I am going to fall on my knees in
my oratory； and will not rise until I have obtained from Heaven your
Majesty's pardon。〃 The Emperor could no longer hold out； he granted the
pardon； and M。 M was released after a month of close confinement。
M。 Larrey was charged by his Majesty to reprove him most severely； with a
caution to guard more carefully the honor of the corps to which he
belonged； and the remonstrances of this excellent man were made in so
paternal a manner that they doubled in M。 M's eyes the value of the
inestimable service M。 Larrey had rendered him。
M。 le Baron Larrey was always most disinterested in his kind services； a
fact which was well known and often abused。 General d'A； the son of
a rich senator； had his shoulder broken by a shell at Wagram； and an
exceedingly delicate operation was found necessary； requiring a skilled
hand； and which M。 Larrey alone could perform。 This operation was a
complete success； but the wounded man had a delicate constitution； which
had been much impaired； and consequently required the most incessant care
and attention。 M。 Larrey hardly ever left his bedsid