The old artilleryman has seen much, and likes to tell of it.  For twenty years he was an armed traveller throughout Europe, and he fought without hatred, for he was possessed by a single thought—­the honor of the national flag!  It might have been his superstition, if you will; but it was, at the same time, his safeguard.

The word France, which was then resounding so gloriously through the world, served as a talisman to him against all sorts of temptation.  To have to support a great name may seem a burden to vulgar minds, but it is an encouragement to vigorous ones.

“I, too, have had many moments,” said he to me the other day, “when I have been tempted to make friends with the devil.  War is not precisely the school for rural virtues.  By dint of burning, destroying, and killing, you grow a little tough as regards your feelings; ’and, when the bayonet has made you king, the notions of an autocrat come into your head a little strongly.  But at these moments I called to mind that country which the lieutenant spoke of to me, and I whispered to myself the well-known phrase, ’Toujours Francais!  It has been laughed at since.  People who would make a joke of the death of their mother have turned it into ridicule, as if the name of our country was not also a noble and a binding thing.  For my part, I shall never forget from how many follies the title of Frenchman has kept me.  When, overcome with fatigue, I have found myself in the rear of the colors, and when the musketry was rattling in the front ranks, many a time I heard a voice, which whispered in my ear, ’Leave the others to fight, and for today take care of your own hide!’ But then, that word Francais! murmured within me, and I pressed forward to help my comrades.  At other times, when, irritated by hunger, cold, and wounds, I have arrived at the hovel of some Meinherr, I have been seized by an itching to break the master’s back, and to burn his hut; but I whispered to myself, Francais! and this name would not rhyme with either incendiary or murderer.  I have, in this way, passed through kingdoms from east to west, and from north to south, always determined not to bring disgrace upon my country’s flag.  The lieutenant, you see, had taught me a magic word—­My country!  Not only must we defend it, but we must also make it great and loved.”

October 17th.—­To-day I have paid my neighbor a long visit.  A chance expression led the way to his telling me more of himself than he had yet done.

I asked him whether both his limbs had been lost in the same battle.

“No, no!” replied he; “the cannon only took my leg; it was the Clamart quarries that my arm went to feed.”

And when I asked him for the particulars—­

“That’s as easy as to say good-morning,” continued he.  “After the great break-up at Waterloo, I stayed three months in the camp hospital to give my wooden leg time to grow.  As soon as I was able to hobble a little, I took leave of headquarters, and took the road to Paris, where I hoped to find some relative or friend; but no—­all were gone, or underground.  I should have found myself less strange at Vienna, Madrid, or Berlin.  And although I had a leg the less to provide for, I was none the better off; my appetite had come back, and my last sous were taking flight.