Breakfast being finished, and the ladies having retired, he rose, buckled
on his sword again, drew on his gloves, and taking his hat in his hand, he
advanced to the window, and desired his men to "fall in."

"Men--what men?" said poor Mr-----.

"Why, the Marshal has had a company of sapeurs for these three days back
in the adjoining village--they are now here."

"Here!" exclaimed-----; "what do the sappers here?" Two of the soldiers
carried slow matches in their hands, while their muskets were slung at
their backs. "There is no mine to be sprung here?"

The young officer heard him with great politeness, but declined giving any
answer. The next moment he turned towards the ladies, and was making
himself as agreeable as time and circumstances would admit; when a shot
came crashing through the roof, broke down the ceiling, and knocking the
flue of the stove to pieces, rebounded from the wall, and rolled
harmlessly beneath the table. He was the only person who did not start,
or evince any dread. He merely cast his eyes upward and smiled. He then
turned to poor-----, who stood quite collected, but very pale, near where
the stove had stood, and held out his hand to him.

"On my honour," said the young soldier, "it grieves me to the very heart;
but I must obey my orders. It is no longer an affair of posts; the enemy
is pressing on us in force. The Allied columns are in sight; their
cannon shot have but now penetrated your roof; we have but driven in their
pickets; very soon they will be here; and in the event of their advance,
my orders are to burn down this house and the neighbouring village."