Still, if an officer is insulted--or thinks that he is insulted, which is about the same thing--he fights, and takes the consequences.
"I am not altogether sorry that I am an aide-de-camp, and I think that you can congratulate yourself on the same fact; for we are not thrown, as is a regimental officer, into the company of Prussians, and there is therefore far less risk of getting into a quarrel.
"I have no doubt the marshal, himself, will give you a few lessons shortly.

He is considered to be one of the finest swordsmen in Europe, and in many respects he is as young as I am, and as fond of adventure.

He gave me a few when I first came to him, but he said that it was time thrown away, for that I must put myself in the hands of some good maitre d'armes before he could teach me anything that would be useful.

I have been working hard with one since, and know a good deal more about it than I did; but my teacher says that I am too hot and impetuous to make a good swordsman, and that though I should do well enough in a melee, I shall never be able to stand up against a cool man, in a duel.

Of course the marshal had no idea of teaching me arms, but merely, as he said, of showing me a few passes that might be useful to me, on occasion.