“'You were in Excelmans's dragoons, Pioche, if mistake not?'
“Two years and ten months, citizen-general.'
“'Why did you leave them, and when?'
“'At Monte Bello, with the colonel's permission.'
“'And the reason?'
“'Morbleu! it was a fancy I had. They killed two horses under me that day, and I saw I was not destined for the cavalry.'
“'Ha, ha!' said he, with a sly laugh; 'had they been asses, the thing might have been different, eh?'
“'Yes, mon général,' said I, growing red, for I knew what he meant.
“'Come, Pioche, you must go back again to your old corps; they want one or two like you,—though, parbleu! you 'll ruin the Republic in remounts.'
“'As you please it, Général.'