I shall send to you if I require him.' 'He will be at the Emperor's orders.' 'Are there any papers in the cottage ?' 'They have been burned.' 'That is unfortunate.' 'But I have duplicates.' 'Excellent! Come, Lasalle, every minute counts, and there is nothing to be done here.

Let the men scatter, and we may still ride him down.' The two tall soldiers clanked out of the cottage without taking any further notice of my companion, and I heard the sharp stern order and the jingling of metal as the troopers sprang back into their saddles once more.

An instant later they were off, and I listened to the dull beat of their hoofs dying rapidly into a confused murmur.

My little snuff-coloured champion went to the door of the hut and peered after them through the darkness.

Then he came back and looked me up and down, with his usual dry sardonic smile.
'Well, young man,' said he, 'we have played some pretty _tableaux vivants_ for your amusement, and you can thank me for that nice seat in the front row of the parterre.' 'I am under a very deep obligation to you, sir,' I answered, struggling between my gratitude and my aversion.