NAPOLEON 17 



Lefevre Desnouettes was, he having shortly before made 

 his escape from England, in the way you have mentioned. 

 I immediately wrote to him, making known my situation. 

 It was not long before the General was at my side, and 

 took me to his hotel. He then asked me in what way he 

 could be of service to me — what was the first wish of 

 my heart ? ' To return to England,' I said. At this he 

 seemed to demur, and was silent for a time. At length 

 he said : ' Will you allow me to introduce you to the 

 Emperor ? — he holds a levee to-morrow, Avhere I have to 

 be present.' I replied that I should feel proud of the 

 opportunity of seeing so remarkable a man. 



" Accordingly, on the following morning, I, attended 

 by the General, was presented to this idol of the French 

 soldiery, and who was at that time the dread of Europe. 

 The General, in a few words, stated that I was an 

 officer in the British army, who had recently been sent 

 prisoner from Spain, and that upon a former occasion, 

 when he was taken by the British, he owed his life 

 to his gallant intercession. The Emperor, with his 

 usual blandness of manner, expressed his pleasure at the 

 interview, and, after ascertaining my country, asked me 

 what rank I held in the British army. I replied, in 

 French, 'A major in the Portuguese service.' "There 

 is no such rank in the French army, Chef d'Escadron,' 

 said he ; ' will you accept the same rank in my Irish 

 Brigade ? ' ' What Avould you think of me. Sire, if I 

 were to accept your offer ? ' I demanded ; ' or what 

 would you have thought of any of your officers, this 

 distinguished General in particular, had he taken up 

 arms in our service ? ' 



VOL. II. c 



