She is ill, and very ill,--at death's door.

Nothing is left me but my daughter, my Emperor, and my honour; and I give my honour, blame me for it who dare!' At this my heart smote me.
'For God's sake,' I cried, 'think no more of what I have said! A parole?
what is a parole against life and death and love?
I ask your pardon; this gentleman's also.

As long as I shall be with you, you shall not have cause to complain of me again.

I pray God you will find your daughter alive and restored.' 'That is past praying for,' said the Colonel; and immediately the brief fire died out of him, and, returning to the hearth, he relapsed into his former abstraction.
But I was not so easy to compose.

The knowledge of the poor gentleman's trouble, and the sight of his face, had filled me with the bitterness of remorse; and I insisted upon shaking hands with the Major (which he did with a very ill grace), and abounded in palinodes and apologies.
'After all,' said I, 'who am I to talk?
I am in the luck to be a private soldier; I have no parole to give or to keep; once I am over the rampart, I am as free as air.