“'Ah, coquin! said he, as I stood ready to drop with fear at the door of the box, 'this has been one of thy doings, eh?'
“'Yes, Sire,' muttered I in a half whisper.
“'And how hast thou dared to spoil an opera in this fashion?' said he, frowning fiercely. 'Answer me, sirrah!'
“'It was your Majesty's fault,' said I, becoming reckless of all consequences. 'You did n't seem to care much for all their scraping and blowing, and so I thought the old roulade might raise you a bit. You used to like it once; and might still, if the times be not altered.'
“'And they are not,' said he, sternly. 'Who art thou, that seem'st to know me thus well?'
“'Old François, that was maître d'armes of the Fourth in Egypt, and who saved you from the stroke of a Mameluke sabre at Chebrheis.'
“'What! the fellow who killed an Austrian prisoner after Marengo? Why, I thought thee dead.'
“'Better for me I had been!' said I. 'You would n't read my petition. ('Yes, you may frown away, General,' said I to Duroc, who kept glowering at me like a tiger.) I began life at the tambour; I have come down to it again. You can't bring me lower, parbleu!
“The Emperor whispered something to the Empress, who turned round towards me and laughed; and then he made a sign for me to withdraw. Before I had got a dozen paces from the box, an aide-de-camp overtook me.
“'François,' said he, 'you are to appear before the medical commission to-morrow; and if their report be favorable, you are to have your old grade of maître d'armes.'