“Simple enough. She would n't have you.”
The young man endeavored to join in the laugh this speech excited among the rest, though it was evident he felt ill at ease from the ridicule.
“A thousand pardons, my dear Burke,” said Duchesne, at this moment, as he slipped his arm through mine; “but I thought I should have been in need of your services a few minutes ago.”
“Ah! how?”
“Move a little aside, and I 'll tell you. I wished to ask mademoiselle to dance, and approached her for the purpose. She was standing with a number of people, all strangers to me, at the doorway yonder,—Dobretski, that Russian prince, the only man I knew amongst them. A very chilling 'Engaged, sir,' was the answer of the lady to my first request. The same reply met my second and third; when the Russian, as if desirous to increase the awkwardness of my position, interposed with, 'And the fourth set mademoiselle dances with me.'
“'In that case,' said I, 'I may fairly claim the fifth.'
“'On what grounds, sir?' said she, with a look of easy impertinence.
“'The Emperor's orders, Mademoiselle,' said I, proudly.
“'Indeed, sir! May I ask how and when?'
“'Austerlitz, December 2. The order of four o'clock, dated from Reygern, says, “The Imperial Guard will follow closely on the track of the Russians.” (Signed) “Napoleon.”'