第59章

WhenNeydashedupontheadvanceofthealliedtroops，carryingonepositionaftertheother，untilthearrivalofthegreatbodyoftheBritisharmyfromBrusselschangedtheaspectofthecombatofQuatreBras，thesquadronsamongwhichRegulusrodeshowedthegreatestactivityinretreatingbeforetheFrench，andweredislodgedfromonepostandanotherwhichtheyoccupiedwithperfectalacrityontheirpart。TheirmovementswereonlycheckedbytheadvanceoftheBritishintheirrear。Thusforcedtohalt，theenemy’scavalry(whosebloodthirstyobstinacycannotbetooseverelyreprehended)hadatlengthanopportunityofcomingtoclosequarterswiththebraveBelgiansbeforethem；whopreferredtoencountertheBritishratherthantheFrench，andatonceturningtailrodethroughtheEnglishregimentsthatwerebehindthem，andscatteredinalldirections。Theregimentinfactdidnotexistanymore。Itwasnowhere。Ithadnohead-quarters。Regulusfoundhimselfgallopingmanymilesfromthefieldofaction，entirelyalone；andwhithershouldheflyforrefugesonaturallyastothatkitchenandthosefaithfularmsinwhichPaulinehadsooftenwelcomedhim？

Atsometeno’clocktheclinkingofasabremighthavebeenheardupthestairofthehousewheretheOsbornesoccupiedastoryinthecontinentalfashion。Aknockmighthavebeenheardatthekitchendoor；andpoorPauline，comebackfromchurch，faintedalmostwithterrorassheopeneditandsawbeforeherherhaggardhussar。HelookedaspaleasthemidnightdragoonwhocametodisturbLeonora。Paulinewouldhavescreamed，butthathercrywouldhavecalledhermasters，anddiscoveredherfriend。Shestifledherscream，then，andleadingherherointothekitchen，gavehimbeer，andthechoicebitsfromthedinner，whichJoshadnothadthehearttotaste。Thehussarshowedhewasnoghostbytheprodigiousquantityoffleshandbeerwhichhedevoured——andduringthemouthfulshetoldhistaleofdisaster。

Hisregimenthadperformedprodigiesofcourage，andhadwithstoodforawhiletheonsetofthewholeFrencharmy。Buttheywereoverwhelmedatlast，aswasthewholeBritisharmybythistime。Neydestroyedeachregimentasitcameup。TheBelgiansinvaininterposedtopreventthebutcheryoftheEnglish。TheBrunswickerswereroutedandhadfled——theirDukewaskilled。Itwasageneraldebacle。Hesoughttodrownhissorrowforthedefeatinfloodsofbeer。

Isidor，whohadcomeintothekitchen，heardtheconversationandrushedouttoinformhismaster。”Itisallover。”heshriekedtoJos。”MilorDukeisaprisoner；

theDukeofBrunswickiskilled；theBritisharmyisinfullflight；thereisonlyonemanescaped，andheisinthekitchennow——comeandhearhim。”SoJostotteredintothatapartmentwhereRegulusstillsateonthekitchentable，andclungfasttohisflagonofbeer。InthebestFrenchwhichhecouldmuster，andwhichwasinsoothofaveryungrammaticalsort，Josbesoughtthehussartotellhistale。ThedisastersdeepenedasRegulusspoke。Hewastheonlymanofhisregimentnotslainonthefield。

HehadseentheDukeofBrunswickfall，theblackhussarsfly，theEcossaispoundeddownbythecannon。

“Andthe——th？”gaspedJos。

“Cutinpieces。”saidthehussar——uponwhichPaulinecriedout，“Omymistress，mabonnepetitedame。”wentofffairlyintohysterics，andfilledthehousewithherscreams。

Wildwithterror，Mr。Sedleyknewnothoworwheretoseekforsafety。Herushedfromthekitchenbacktothesitting-room，andcastanappealinglookatAmelia’sdoor，whichMrs。O’Dowdhadclosedandlockedinhisface；butherememberedhowscornfullythelatterhadreceivedhim，andafterpausingandlisteningforabriefspaceatthedoor，heleftit，andresolvedtogointothestreet，forthefirsttimethatday。So，seizingacandle，helookedaboutforhisgold-lacedcap，andfounditlyinginitsusualplace，onaconsole-table，intheanteroom，placedbeforeamirroratwhichJosusedtocoquet，alwaysgivinghisside-locksatwirl，andhiscapthepropercockov