servants of the marshal, who honored his memory as much and even more by
the tears which they shed in silence than did all this public mourning
and imposing ceremony. They recognized me, for we had been together on
the campaign. I remained some time with them, and we left the Pantheon
together.

During my short excursion to Paris, their Majesties had left Saint-Cloud
for Rambouillet, so I set out to rejoin them with the equipages of the
marshal, Prince de Neuchatel, who had left court temporarily to be
present at the obsequies of the brave Duke of Montebello.

It was, if I am not mistaken, on arriving at Rambouillet that I learned
the particulars of a duel which had taken place that day between two
gentlemen, pages of his Majesty. I do not recall the subject of the
quarrel; but, though very trivial in its origin, it became very serious
from the course of conduct to which it led. It was a dispute between
schoolboys; but these school-boys wore swords, and regarded each other,
not without reason, as more than three-fourths soldiers, so they had
decided to fight. But for this fight, two things were necessary,--time
and secrecy; as to their time, it was employed from four or five in the
morning till nine in the evening, almost constantly, and secrecy was not
maintained.

M. d'Assigny, a man of rare merit and fine character, was then sub-
governor of the pages, by whom his faithfulness, kindness, and justice
had caused him to be much beloved. Wishing to prevent a calamity, he
called before him the two adversaries; but these young men, destined for
army service, would hear of no other reparation than the duel.
M. d'Assigny had too much tact to attempt to argue with them, knowing
that he would not have been obeyed; but he offered himself as second, was