“‘Escape, general! Go home!—’
“The project was abandoned; Davoust shrugged his shoulders and went out, whispering to himself—‘ Bah, il devient superstitieux!’ Next morning the order to retreat was given.”
“All this is most interesting,” said the prince, very softly, “if it really was so—that is, I mean—” he hastened to correct himself.
“Oh, my dear prince,” cried the general, who was now so intoxicated with his own narrative that he probably could not have pulled up at the most patent indiscretion. “You say, ‘if it really was so!’ There was more— much more, I assure you! These are merely a few little political acts. I tell you I was the eye-witness of the nightly sorrow and groanings of the great man, and of that no one can speak but myself. Towards the end he wept no more, though he co
