Chap. 8.

The town of Nice was full of troops, among which was a squadron
of the 1st Hussars, to which regiment I belonged. In the absence
of its colonel, the regiment was commanded by a Major Muller. On
learning that the divisional general had arrived, Muller came to see
my father, and it was agreed between them that, after a few days
rest, I should begin my service in the seventh company, commanded by
Capt. Mathis.

Although my father was very good to me, I was so much in awe of
him that I was very shy in his presence, a shyness which he thought
was greater than was really the case; he said I should have been a
girl, and often called me madamoiselle Marcellin, which annoyed me
very much, especially now that I was a Hussar. It was to overcome
this shyness, that my father wished me to serve in the ranks, and in
any case, as I have already said, one could not join the army except
as a private soldier. My father, it is true, could have attached me
to his personal staff, since my regiment was part of his division,
but, quite apart from the notion which I have described above, he
wanted me to learn how to saddle and bridle my own horse and to look
after my arms and equipment; also, he did not want his son to enjoy
the least privilege, as this would have had a bad effect on the rest
of the troops. It was already enough that I was to be allowed to join
a squadron without undergoing a long and wearisome period of training
at the depot. I passed several days with my father and his staff,
travelling about the district round Nice, which was very beautiful,
but the moment for my entry into the squadron having arrived, my
father asked Major Muller to send him Sergeant Pertelay.