'What rank do you hold in your service?'
'I am but a subaltern.'
'Tenez!' said another of the party, who for some time past had been leisurely conning over the despatches which had been taken from me, 'You are called “capitaine” here, monsieur.'
'Ha! ha! What say you to that?' cried the general exultingly. 'Read it, Chamont.'
'“The despatches which Captain Airey will deliver——”
Is it not so?' said he, handing me the paper.
'Yes,' said I coolly; 'he is the senior aide-de-camp; but being employed on General Graham's staff, now occupied in the pursuit of your army——'
'Mille tonnerres! Young man, you have chosen an unsuitable place to cut your jokes!'
'Sa Majesté le Roi,' said an aide-de-camp, entering hastily, and throwing the door open to its full extent; and scarcely had the party time to rise when the Emperor's brother appeared.
Of the middle size, pale, and with a thoughtful, expressive countenance, Joseph Bonaparte's appearance was much in his favour. His forehead was lofty and expansive, his eye large and full, and the sweet smile which seemed the gift of every member of the family he possessed in perfection. After a few words with General Oudinot, whose rough manner and coarse bearing suffered no change by his presence, he turned towards me, and with much mildness of voice and courtesy of demeanour inquired if I were wounded. On hearing that I was not, he expressed a hope that my captivity would be of brief duration, as exchanges were already in progress. 'Meanwhile,' said he, 'you shall have as little to complain of as possible.'