‘How is this—have I an acquaintance here?’ said he, smiling; ‘on my life! it’s the young rogue I met this morning. Eh! art not thou the artillery-driver I spoke to at the barrack?’
‘Yes, general, the same.’
‘Diantre! It seems fated, then, that we are not to part company so easily; for hadst thou remained in Paris, lad, we had most probably never met again.’
‘Ainsi, je suis bien tombé, general? said I, punning upon my accident.
He laughed heartily, less, I suppose, at the jest, which was a poor one, than at the cool impudence with which I uttered it, and then turning to one of the staff, said—
‘I spoke to Bertholet about this boy already; see that they take him in the 9th. I say, my lad, what’s thy name?’
‘Tiernay, sir.’
‘Ay, to be sure, Tiernay. Well, Tiernay, thou shalt be a hussar, my man. See that I get no disgrace by the appointment.’
I kissed his hand fervently, and the staff rode forward, leaving me the happiest heart that beat in all the crowded host.