Permit us to send for horses to take the place of those we have killed to take the wagons of the valuable convoy to our own army." "And you would have me abandon my Emperor ?" "For the good of France," urged the Russian meaningly.
"Will you answer me a question, monsieur ?" continued the young man after a moment's deep thought.
"Certainly, if it be not treason to my master." "Oh, you have views on treason, then," said the Frenchman adroitly and not giving the other time to answer he continued.

"To what corps are you attached ?" "Count Sacken's." "And whose division ?" "General Olsuvieff's." "Monsieur," said the young Frenchman calmly, "it is more than probable that before to-morrow your division will be annihilated and the next day the corps of General Sacken may meet the same fate." The Russian laughed scornfully at what seemed to him the wildest boasting.
"Are you mad ?" "Not so mad as you will be when it happens." The Russian controlled himself with difficulty in the face of the irritating observations.
"And who will do this ?" he asked, at last.
"The Emperor." "Does he command the lightning-flash that he could hurl the thunder-bolt from Troyes ?" "Upon my word, I believe he does," laughed the Frenchman.
"This is foolish jesting, boy," broke out the Englishman.

"I am a man of consideration in my own country.

The lady here will bear me out.

I offered you fifty pounds.