his shako, hung down to his chest, and with all this an air...! An
air of rakishness which was increased by his speech, which was
rattled out in a sort of Franco-Alsatian patois. This last did not
surprise my father, as he knew that the 1st Hussars were the former
regiment of Bercheny, which in earlier days recruited only Germans,
and where, until 1793, all the orders were given in German, which was
the language generally used by the officers and men, almost all of
whom came from the provinces bordering the Rhine. My father was
however exceedingly surprised by the style and manner of my proposed
mentor.

I learned later that he had hesitated to put me in the hands of
this bravo, but M. Gault having reminded him that Colonel Picart had
described him as the best N.C.O.in the squadron, he decided to try
it. So off I went with Pertelay, who, taking me by the arm without
ceremony, came to my room, showed me how to pack my kit into my
valise, and conducted me to a small barracks, situated in a former
monastery, and now occupied by a squadron of the 1st Hussars.

My mentor made me saddle and unsaddle the pretty little horse
which my father had bought me; then he showed me how to put on my
cloak and my arms, giving me a complete demonstration, and having
decided that he had explained to me all that was necessary, he
thought it time to go for dinner. My father, who wished me to eat
with my mentor, had given us extra money to meet the expense.

Pertelay took me to a small inn, which was crammed with Hussars,
Grenadiers and soldiers of every sort. We were served with a meal,
and on the table was placed an enormous bottle of red wine of the
most violent nature. Pertelay poured me a glassful. We clinked