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as to that kitchen and those faithful arms in which
Pauline had so often welcomed him？
At some ten o'clock the clinking of a sabre might have
been heard up the stair of the house where the Osbornes
occupied a story in the continental fashion。 A knock
might have been heard at the kitchen door； and poor
Pauline； come back from church； fainted almost with
terror as she opened it and saw before her her haggard
hussar。 He looked as pale as the midnight dragoon who
came to disturb Leonora。 Pauline would have screamed；
but that her cry would have called her masters； and
discovered her friend。 She stifled her scream； then； and
leading her hero into the kitchen； gave him beer； and
the choice bits from the dinner； which Jos had not had
the heart to taste。 The hussar showed he was no ghost by
the prodigious quantity of flesh and beer which he
devouredand during the mouthfuls he told his tale of
disaster。
His regiment had performed prodigies of courage； and
had withstood for a while the onset of the whole French
army。 But they were overwhelmed at last； as was the
whole British army by this time。 Ney destroyed each
regiment as it came up。 The Belgians in vain interposed to
prevent the butchery of the English。 The Brunswickers
were routed and had fledtheir Duke was killed。 It was
a general debacle。 He sought to drown his sorrow for
the defeat in floods of beer。
Isidor； who had come into the kitchen； heard the
conversation and rushed out to inform his master。 〃It is
all over；〃 he shrieked to Jos。 〃Milor Duke is a prisoner；
the Duke of Brunswick is killed； the British army is in
full flight； there is only one man escaped； and he is in the
kitchen nowcome and hear him。〃 So Jos tottered into
that apartment where Regulus still sate on the kitchen
table； and clung fast to his flagon of beer。 In the best
French which he could muster； and which was in sooth
of a very ungrammatical sort； Jos besought the hussar to
tell his tale。 The disasters deepened as Regulus spoke。 He
was the only man of his regiment not slain on the field。
He had seen the Duke of Brunswick fall； the black
hussars fly； the Ecossais pounded down by the cannon。
〃And the th？〃 gasped Jos。
〃Cut in pieces；〃 said the hussarupon which Pauline
cried out； 〃O my mistress； ma bonne petite dame；〃 went
off fairly into hysterics； and filled the house with her
screams。
Wild with terror； Mr。 Sedley knew not how or where
to seek for safety。 He rushed from the kitchen back to
the sitting…room； and cast an appealing look at Amelia's
door； which Mrs。 O'Dowd had closed and locked in his
face； but he remembered how scornfully the latter had
received him； and after pausing and listening for a brief
space at the door； he left it； and resolved to go into the
street； for the first time that day。 So； seizing a candle； he
looked about for his gold…laced cap； and found it lying in its
usual place； on a console…table； in the anteroom； placed
before a mirror at which Jos used to coquet； always
giving his side…locks a twirl； and his cap the proper cock
over his eye； before he went forth to make appearance in
public。 Such is the force of habit； that even in the midst
of his terror he began mechanically to twiddle with his
hair； and arrange the cock of his hat。 Then he looked
amazed at the pale face in the glass before him； and
especially at his mustachios； which had attained a rich
growth in the course of near seven weeks； since they had
come into the world。 They WILL mistake me for a military
man； thought he； remembering Isidor's warning as
to the massacre with which all the defeated British army
was threatened； and staggering back to his bedchamber；
he began wildly pulling the bell which summoned his
valet。
Isidor answered that summons。 Jos had sunk in a chair
he had torn off his neckcloths； and turned down his
collars； and was sitting with both his hands lifted to his
throat。
〃Coupez…moi； Isidor；〃 shouted he； 〃vite！ Coupez…moi！〃
Isidor thought for a moment he had gone mad； and
that he wished his valet to cut his throat。
〃Les moustaches；〃 gasped Joe； 〃les moustaches
coupy； rasy； vite！〃his French was of this sortvoluble；
as we have said； but not remarkable for grammar。
Isidor swept off the mustachios in no time with the
razor； and heard with inexpressible delight his master's
orders that he should fetch a hat and a plain coat。 〃Ne
porty ploohabit militairbonnbonny a voo； prenny
dehors〃were Jos's wordsthe coat and cap were at
last his property。
This gift being made； Jos selected a plain black coat
and waistcoat from his stock； and put on a large white
neckcloth； and a plain beaver。 If he could have got a
shovel hat he would have worn it。 As it was； you would
have fancied he was a flourishing； large parson of the
Church of England。
〃Venny maintenong；〃 he continued； 〃sweevyally
partydong la roo。〃 And so having said； he plunged
swiftly down the stairs of the house； and passed into the
street。
Although Regulus had vowed that he was the only
man of his regiment or of the allied army； almost； who
had escaped being cut to pieces by Ney； it appeared
that his statement was incorrect； and that a good number
more of the supposed victims had survived the massacre。
Many scores of Regulus's comrades had found their way
back to Brussels； and all agreeing that they had run
awayfilled the whole town with an idea of the defeat
of the allies。 The arrival of the French was expected
hourly； the panic continued； and preparations for flight
went on everywhere。 No horses！ thought Jos； in terror。
He made Isidor inquire of scores of persons； whether
they had any to lend or sell； and his heart sank within
him； at the negative answers returned everywhere。 Should
he take the journey on foot？ Even fear could not render
that ponderous body so active。
Almost all the hotels occupied by the English in Brussels
face the Parc； and Jos wandered irresolutely about
in this quarter； with crowds of other people； oppressed as
he was by fear and curiosity。 Some families he saw more
happy than himself； having discovered a team of horses；
and rattling through the streets in retreat； others again
there were whose case was like his own； and who
could not for any bribes or entreaties procure the
necessary means of flight。 Amongst these would…be fugitives；
Jos remarked the Lady Bareacres and her daughter； who
sate in their carriage in the porte…cochere of their hotel；
all their imperials packed； and the only drawback to
whose flight was the same want of motive power which
kept Jos stationary。
Rebecca Crawley occupied apartments in this hotel；
and had before this period had sundry hostile meetings
with the ladies of the Bareacres family。 My Lady
Bareacres cut Mrs。 Crawley on the stairs when they met
by chance； and in all places where the latter's name was
mentioned； spoke perseveringly ill of her neighbour。 The
Countess was shocked at the familiarity of General Tufto
with the aide…de…camp's wife。 The Lady Blanche avoided
her as if she had been an infectious disease。 Only the
Earl himself kept up a sly occasional acquaintance with
her； when out of the jurisdiction of his ladies。
Rebecca had her