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superior； he is no longer young' … at which word you are to
conceive the Major's face。 'It is admitted he has broken his
parole。 I know not his reason； and no more do you。 It might be
patriotism in this hour of our country's adversity； it might be
humanity； necessity； you know not what in the least； and you permit
yourself to reflect on his honour。 To break parole may be a
subject for pity and not derision。 I have broken mine … I； a
colonel of the Empire。 And why？ I have been years negotiating my
exchange； and it cannot be managed； those who have influence at the
Ministry of War continually rush in before me； and I have to wait；
and my daughter at home is in a decline。 I am going to see my
daughter at last； and it is my only concern lest I should have
delayed too long。 She is ill； and very ill； … at death's door。
Nothing is left me but my daughter； my Emperor； and my honour； and
I give my honour； blame me for it who dare！'
At this my heart smote me。
'For God's sake；' I cried； 'think no more of what I have said！ A
parole？ what is a parole against life and death and love？ I ask
your pardon； this gentleman's also。 As long as I shall be with
you； you shall not have cause to complain of me again。 I pray God
you will find your daughter alive and restored。'
'That is past praying for；' said the Colonel； and immediately the
brief fire died out of him； and； returning to the hearth； he
relapsed into his former abstraction。
But I was not so easy to compose。 The knowledge of the poor
gentleman's trouble； and the sight of his face； had filled me with
the bitterness of remorse； and I insisted upon shaking hands with
the Major （which he did with a very ill grace）； and abounded in
palinodes and apologies。
'After all；' said I； 'who am I to talk？ I am in the luck to be a
private soldier； I have no parole to give or to keep； once I am
over the rampart； I am as free as air。 I beg you to believe that I
regret from my soul the use of these ungenerous expressions。 Allow
me 。 。 。 Is there no way in this damned house to attract attention？
Where is this fellow； Fenn？'
I ran to one of the windows and threw it open。 Fenn； who was at
the moment passing below in the court； cast up his arms like one in
despair； called to me to keep back； plunged into the house； and
appeared next moment in the doorway of the chamber。
'Oh； sir！' says he； 'keep away from those there windows。 A body
might see you from the back lane。'
'It is registered；' said I。 'Henceforward I will be a mouse for
precaution and a ghost for invisibility。 But in the meantime； for
God's sake； fetch us a bottle of brandy！ Your room is as damp as
the bottom of a well； and these gentlemen are perishing of cold。'
So soon as I had paid him （for everything； I found； must be paid in
advance）； I turned my attention to the fire； and whether because I
threw greater energy into the business； or because the coals were
now warmed and the time ripe； I soon started a blaze that made the
chimney roar again。 The shine of it； in that dark； rainy day；
seemed to reanimate the Colonel like a blink of sun。 With the
outburst of the flames； besides； a draught was established； which
immediately delivered us from the plague of smoke； and by the time
Fenn returned； carrying a bottle under his arm and a single tumbler
in his hand； there was already an air of gaiety in the room that
did the heart good。
I poured out some of the brandy。
'Colonel；' said I； 'I am a young man and a private soldier。 I have
not been long in this room； and already I have shown the petulance
that belongs to the one character and the ill manners that you may
look for in the other。 Have the humanity to pass these slips over；
and honour me so far as to accept this glass。'
'My lad；' says he； waking up and blinking at me with an air of
suspicion； 'are you sure you can afford it？'
I assured him I could。
'I thank you； then： I am very cold。' He took the glass out； and a
little colour came in his face。 'I thank you again；' said he。 'It
goes to the heart。'
The Major； when I motioned him to help himself； did so with a good
deal of liberality； continued to do so for the rest of the morning；
now with some sort of apology； now with none at all； and the bottle
began to look foolish before dinner was served。 It was such a meal
as he had himself predicted： beef； greens； potatoes； mustard in a
teacup； and beer in a brown jug that was all over hounds； horses；
and hunters； with a fox at the fat end and a gigantic John Bull …
for all the world like Fenn … sitting in the midst in a bob…wig and
smoking tobacco。 The beer was a good brew； but not good enough for
the Major； he laced it with brandy … for his cold； he said； and in
this curative design the remainder of the bottle ebbed away。 He
called my attention repeatedly to the circumstance； helped me
pointedly to the dregs； threw the bottle in the air and played
tricks with it； and at last； having exhausted his ingenuity； and
seeing me remain quite blind to every hint； he ordered and paid for
another himself。
As for the Colonel； he ate nothing； sat sunk in a muse； and only
awoke occasionally to a sense of where he was； and what he was
supposed to be doing。 On each of these occasions he showed a
gratitude and kind courtesy that endeared him to me beyond
expression。 'Champdivers； my lad； your health！' he would say。
'The Major and I had a very arduous march last night； and I
positively thought I should have eaten nothing； but your fortunate
idea of the brandy has made quite a new man of me … quite a new
man。' And he would fall to with a great air of heartiness； cut
himself a mouthful； and； before he had swallowed it； would have
forgotten his dinner； his company； the place where he then was； and
the escape he was engaged on； and become absorbed in the vision of
a sick…room and a dying girl in France。 The pathos of this
continual preoccupation； in a man so old； sick； and over…weary； and
whom I looked upon as a mere bundle of dying bones and death…pains；
put me wholly from my victuals： it seemed there was an element of
sin； a kind of rude bravado of youth； in the mere relishing of food
at the same table with this tragic father； and though I was well
enough used to the coarse； plain diet of the English； I ate scarce
more than himself。 Dinner was hardly over before he succumbed to a
lethargic sleep； lying on one of the mattresses with his limbs
relaxed； and his breath seemingly suspended … the very image of
dissolution。
This left the Major and myself alone at the table。 You must not
suppose our TETE…A…TETE was long； but it was a lively period while
it lasted。 He drank like a fish or an Englishman； shouted； beat
the table； roared out songs； quarrelled； made it up again； and at
last tried to throw the dinner…plates through the window； a feat of
which he was at that time quite incapable。 For a party of
fugitives； condemned to the most rigorous discretion； there was
never seen so noisy a carnival； and through it all the Colonel
continued to sleep like a child。 Seeing the Major so well
advanced； and no retreat possible； I made a fair wind of a foul
one； keeping his glass full； pushing him with toasts； and sooner
than I could have dared to hope； he became drowsy and incoherent。
With the wrong…headedness of all such sots； he would not be
persuaded to lie down upon one of the mattresses until I had
stretched myself upon another。 But the comedy was soon over； soon
he slept the sleep of the just； and snored like a military music；
and I might get up again and face （as best I could） the excessive
tedium of the afternoon。
I had passed the night before in a good bed； I was denied the
resource of slumber； and there was nothing open for me but to pace
the apartment； maintain the fire； and brood on my position。 I
compared yesterday and to…day … the safety； comfort； jollity； open…
air exercise and pleasant roadside inns of the one； with the
tedium； anxiety； and discomfort of the other。 I remembered that I
was in the hands of Fenn； who could not be more false … though he
might be more vindictive … than I fancied him。 I looked forward to
nights of pitching in the covered cart； and days of monotony in I
knew not what hiding…places； and my heart failed me； and I was in
two minds whether to slink off ere it was too late； and return to
my former solitary way of travel。 But the Colonel stood in the
path。 I had not seen much of him； but already I judged him a man
of a childlike nature … with that sort of innocence and courtesy
that； I think； is only to be found in old soldiers or old priests …
and broken with years and sorrow。 I could not turn my back on his
distress； could not leave him alone with the selfish tr