Still he is undoubtedly a very good leader.' 'And the general next him ?' I asked.

'Why does he carry his head all upon one side ?' 'That is General Lannes, and he carries his head upon his left shoulder because he was shot through the neck at the siege of St.Jean d'Acre.
He is a Gascon, like myself, and I fear that he gives some ground to those who accuse my countrymen of being a little talkative and quarrelsome.

But monsieur smiles ?' 'You are mistaken.' 'I thought that perhaps something which I had said might have amused monsieur.

I thought that possibly he meant that Gascons really were quarrelsome, instead of being, as I contend, the mildest race in France--an opinion which I am always ready to uphold in any way which may be suggested.

But, as I say, Lannes is a very valiant man, though, occasionally, perhaps, a trifle hot-headed.