won't in the House." Poor fellow, he paid for his meaningless joke
with his life, for I shot him through the heart the next morning.
"You're a good fellow, Denville," said the poor boy faintly, as I
knelt beside him: "good by!" For the first time since my
grandfather's death I wept. I could not help thinking that I would
have been a better man if Blanche--but why proceed? Was she not
now in Florence--the belle of the English Embassy?

But Napoleon had returned from Elba. Europe was in a blaze of
excitement. The Allies were preparing to resist the Man of
Destiny. We were ordered from Gibraltar home, and were soon again
en route for Brussels. I did not regret that I was to be placed in
active service. I was ambitious, and longed for an opportunity to
distinguish myself. My garrison life in Gibraltar had been
monotonous and dull. I had killed five men in duel, and had an
affair with the colonel of my regiment, who handsomely apologized
before the matter assumed a serious aspect. I had been twice in
love. Yet these were but boyish freaks and follies. I wished to
be a man.

The time soon came,--the morning of Waterloo. But why describe
that momentous battle, on which the fate of the entire world was
hanging? Twice were the Fifty-sixth surrounded by French
cuirassiers, and twice did we mow them down by our fire. I had
seven horses shot under me, and was mounting the eighth, when an
orderly rode up hastily, touched his cap, and, handing me a
despatch, galloped rapidly away.

I opened it hurriedly and read:--