she had been sent out to be nursed at a farmhouse, and he did not
even recollect her name. I shall never forget how he stared, when at
the sound of a little cry my husband opened the door and appeared
with our little Gaspard, now five months old, laughing and springing
in his arms, and feeling for the gold on his uniform. The count had
much the same expression with which I have seen a lady regard me when
I took a caterpillar in my hand.

'Ah! ah!' cried our Chevalier; 'with all his legs and arms too! That
is what comes of marrying an Englishwoman.' [he did not know I was
within hearing, for I had gone in to give Tryphena orders about the
room he would occupy.] 'Beside, it is a son.'

'I hope one day to have a daughter whom I shall love the more, the
more she resembles her mother,' said my husband, to tease him.

'Bah! You will not have to detest her keeping you back from glory!
Tell me, Philippe, could a lettre de cachet reach me here?'

'We are on French soil. What have you been doing, Armand?'

'Only flying from inglorious dullness, my friend. Do not be
scandalized, but let me know how soon I can reach the hero of France,
and enroll myself as a volunteer.'

'The Duke is at Binche. I must return thither tomorrow. You had
better eat and sleep here tonight, and then we can decide what is to
be done.'

'I may do that,' the youth said, considering. 'My grandfather could