Page:A French Volunteer of the War of Independence.djvu/162

This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.
138
A FRENCH VOLUNTEER


that he might not believe my account on hearsay only.

We arrived at Lyon. It is customary on visiting the castle to give at the gate your name and that of the hotel at which you are staying. The corporal who came out to question us, looked at me, and recogniised me, although I was enveloped in the long cloak of the dragoon uniform.

"Oh, sir," he said laughingly, "there is no need to ask your name; we are not likely to forget it."

The corporal had belonged to the guard on the day when I had my fight with it. He eagerly asked us where we were lodging, and an hour after our arrival we received from M. de Bellecize, the governor of the castle, a pressing invitation to dine with him on the following day.

We accepted, and were warmly welcomed. It was not surprising that in the short interval of three years few changes should have taken place in a stationary garrison like that of Pierre-en-Cize, and that there should still be many amongst them who, like the worthy corporal, had