He paused as he said thus much, as if expecting me to say something; and I perceived that the embarrassment he felt rather increased than otherwise. I therefore endeavored to mumble out something about his hurried departure and the annoyance of such a sentence, when he stopped me suddenly.
“Oh, as to that, I fancy the matter is arranged already; I should have had a letter from the War Office.”
“Yes, there is one here; it came three hours ago.”
He turned at once to the table, and breaking the seal, perused the packet in silence, then handed it to me, as he said,—
“Bead that; it will save a world of explanation.”
It was dated five o'clock, and merely contained the following few words:—
His Majesty I. and R. accepts the resignation of Senior
Captain Duchesne, late of the Imperial Guard; who, from the
date of the present, is no longer in the service of France.
(Signed)
BERTHIER, Marshal of France.
A small sealed note dropped from the packet, which Duchesne took up, and broke open with eagerness.
“Ha! parbleu!” cried he, with energy; “I thought not. See here, Burke; it is Duroc who writes:—”
My dear Duchesne,—I knew there was no use in making such a
proposition, and told you as much. The moment I said the
word 'England,' he shouted out 'No!' in such a tone you
might have heard it at the Luxembourg. You will perceive,
then, the thing is impracticable; and perhaps, after all,
for your own sake, it is better it should be so.
Yours ever, D.