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drawing…room； however brilliant they were in the field of battle。
The Emperor always asked me to take wine with him； and was full of
kindness and attention。
〃I like Eugene；〃 he would say； pinching my ear confidentially； as
his way was〃I like Eugene to keep company with such young fellows
as you； you have manners； you have principles； my rogues from the
camp have none。 And I like you； Philip my boy；〃 he added； 〃for
being so attentive to my poor wifethe Empress Josephine； I mean。〃
All these honors made my friends at the Marquis's very proud； and
my enemies at Court crever with envy。 Among these； the atrocious
Cambaceres was not the least active and envenomed。
The cause of the many attentions which were paid to me； and which；
like a vain coxcomb； I had chosen to attribute to my own personal
amiability； soon was apparent。 Having formed a good opinion of my
gallantry from my conduct in various actions and forlorn hopes
during the war； the Emperor was most anxious to attach me to his
service。 The Grand Cross of St。 Louis； the title of Count； the
command of a crack cavalry regiment； the l4me Chevaux Marins； were
the bribes that were actually offered to me； and must I say it？
Blanche； the lovely； the perfidious Blanche； was one of the agents
employed to tempt me to commit this act of treason。
〃Object to enter a foreign service！〃 she said； in reply to my
refusal。 〃It is you； Philip； who are in a foreign service。 The
Irish nation is in exile； and in the territories of its French
allies。 Irish traitors are not here； they march alone under the
accursed flag of the Saxon； whom the great Napoleon would have
swept from the face of the earth； but for the fatal valor of Irish
mercenaries！ Accept this offer； and my heart； my hand； my all are
yours。 Refuse it； Philip； and we part。〃
〃To wed the abominable Cambaceres！〃 I cried； stung with rage。 〃To
wear a duchess's coronet； Blanche！ Ha； ha！ Mushrooms； instead of
strawberry…leaves； should decorate the brows of the upstart French
nobility。 I shall withdraw my parole。 I demand to be sent to
prisonto be exchangedto dieanything rather than be a traitor；
and the tool of a traitress！〃 Taking up my hat； I left the room in
a fury； and flinging open the door tumbled over Cambaceres； who was
listening at the key…hole； and must have overheard every word of
our conversation。
We tumbled over each other； as Blanche was shrieking with laughter
at our mutual discomfiture。 Her scorn only made me more mad； and；
having spurs on； I began digging them into Cambaceres' fat sides as
we rolled on the carpet； until the Marshal howled with rage and
anger。
〃This insult must be avenged with blood！〃 roared the Duke of
Illyria。
〃I have already drawn it；〃 says I； 〃with my spurs。〃
〃Malheur et malediction！〃 roared the Marshal。
〃Hadn't you better settle your wig？〃 says I； offering it to him on
the tip of my cane； 〃and we'll arrange time and place when you have
put your jasey in order。〃 I shall never forget the look of revenge
which he cast at me； as I was thus turning him into ridicule before
his mistress。
〃Lady Blanche；〃 I continued bitterly； 〃as you look to share the
Duke's coronet； hadn't you better see to his wig？〃 and so saying； I
cocked my hat； and walked out of the Marquis's place； whistling
〃Garryowen。〃
I knew my man would not be long in following me； and waited for him
in the Place Vendome； where I luckily met Eugene too； who was
looking at the picture…shop in the corner。 I explained to him my
affair in a twinkling。 He at once agreed to go with me to the
ground； and commended me； rather than otherwise； for refusing the
offer which had been made to me。 〃I knew it would be so；〃 he said；
kindly； 〃I told my father you wouldn't。 A man with the blood of
the Fogarties； Phil my boy； doesn't wheel about like those fellows
of yesterday。〃 So； when Cambaceres came out； which he did
presently； with a more furious air than before； I handed him at
once over to Eugene； who begged him to name a friend； and an early
hour for the meeting to take place。
〃Can you make it before eleven； Phil？〃 said Beauharnais。 〃The
Emperor reviews the troops in the Bois de Boulogne at that hour；
and we might fight there handy before the review。〃
〃Done！〃 said I。 〃I want of all things to see the newly…arrived
Saxon cavalry manoeuvre：〃 on which Cambaceres； giving me a look； as
much as to say； 〃See sights！ Watch cavalry manoeuvres！ Make your
soul； and take measure for a coffin； my boy！〃 walked away； naming
our mutual acquaintance； Marshal Ney； to Eugene； as his second in
the business。
I had purchased from Murat a very fine Irish horse； Bugaboo； out of
Smithereens； by Fadladeen； which ran into the French ranks at
Salamanca； with poor Jack Clonakilty； of the 13th； dead； on the top
of him。 Bugaboo was too much and too ugly an animal for the King
of Naples； who； though a showy horseman； was a bad rider across
country； and I got the horse for a song。 A wickeder and uglier
brute never wore pig…skin； and I never put my leg over such a
timber…jumper in my life。 I rode the horse down to the Bois de
Boulogne on the morning that the affair with Cambaceres was to come
off； and Lanty held him as I went in； 〃sure to win；〃 as they say in
the ring。
Cambaceres was known to be the best shot in the French army； but I；
who am a pretty good hand at a snipe； thought a man was bigger； and
that I could wing him if I had a mind。 As soon as Ney gave the
word； we both fired： I felt a whiz past my left ear； and putting up
my hand there； found a large piece of my whiskers gone； whereas at
the same moment； and shrieking a horrible malediction； my adversary
reeled and fell。
〃Mon Dieu； il est mort！〃 cried Ney。
〃Pas de tout；〃 said Beauharnais。 〃Ecoute； il jure toujours。〃
And such； indeed； was the fact： the supposed dead man lay on the
ground cursing most frightfully。 We went up to him： he was blind
with the loss of blood； and my ball had carried off the bridge of
his nose。 He recovered； but he was always called the Prince of
Ponterotto in the French army； afterwards。 The surgeon in
attendance having taken charge of this unfortunate warrior； we rode
off to the review where Ney and Eugene were on duty at the head of
their respective divisions； and where； by the way； Cambaceres； as
the French say； 〃se faisait desirer。〃
It was arranged that Cambaceres' division of six battalions and
nine…and…twenty squadrons should execute a ricochet movement；
supported by artillery in the intervals； and converging by
different epaulements on the light infantry； that formed； as usual；
the centre of the line。 It was by this famous manoeuvre that at
Arcola； at Montenotte； at Friedland； and subsequently at Mazagran；
Suwaroff； Prince Charles； and General Castanos were defeated with
such victorious slaughter： but it is a movement which； I need not
tell every military man； require