Colonel Le Noir entered the city of Mexico with the victorious army, but on the subsequent day, being engaged in a street skirmish with the leperos, or liberated convicts, he fell mortally wounded by a copper bullet, and he was now dying by inches at his quarters near the Grand Cathedral.
It was on the evening of the 20th of September, six days from the triumphant entry of General Scott into the capital, that Major Greyson was seated at supper at his quarters, with some of his brother officers, when an orderly entered and handed a note to Herbert, which proved to be a communication from the surgeon of their regiment, begging him to repair without delay to the quarters of Colonel Le Noir, who, being in extremity, desired to see him.
Major Greyson immediately excused himself to his company, and repaired to the quarters of the dying man.
He found Colonel Le Noir stretched upon his bed in a state of extreme exhaustion and attended by the surgeon and chaplain of his regiment.
As Herbert advanced to the side of his bed, Le Noir stretched out his pale hand and said:
"You bear no grudge against a dying man, Greyson?"
"Certainly not," said Herbert, "especially when he proposes doing the right thing, as I judge you do, from the fact of your sending for me."
"Yes, I do; I do!" replied Le Noir, pressing the hand that Herbert's kindness of heart could not withhold.
Le Noir then beckoned the minister to hand him two sealed packets, which he took and laid upon the bed before him.
Then taking up the larger of the two packets, he placed it in the hands of Herbert Greyson, saying: