"Major," said the Emperor to me in conclusion, "why had I not such
a man as you in my service? I would have made you a Prince and a
Marshal!" and here he fell into a reverie, of which I knew and
respected the purport. He was thinking, doubtless, that I might
have retrieved his fortunes; and indeed I have very little doubt
that I might.

Very soon after, coffee was brought by Monsieur Marchand,
Napoleon's valet-de-chambre, and after partaking of that beverage,
and talking upon the politics of the day, the Emperor withdrew,
leaving me deeply impressed by the condescension he had shown in
this remarkable interview.



CHAPTER III: A PEEP INTO SPAIN--ACCOUNT OF THE ORIGIN AND SERVICES
OF THE AHMEDNUGGAR IRREGULARS



HEADQUARTERS, MORELLA: September 15, 1838

I have been here for some months, along with my young friend
Cabrera: and in the hurry and bustle of war--daily on guard and in
the batteries for sixteen hours out of the twenty-four, with
fourteen severe wounds and seven musket-balls in my body--it may be
imagined that I have had little time to think about the publication
of my memoirs. Inter arma silent leges--in the midst of fighting
be hanged to writing! as the poet says; and I never would have
bothered myself with a pen, had not common gratitude incited me to