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the ribbons at the buttonhole in the manner practised to this day
in Europe and even was unwilling to display the insignia on
festive occasions； as though he wished to conceal them in the
fear of appearing boastful。 〃It is enough that I have them；〃 he
used to mutter。 In the course of thirty years they were seen on
his breast only twiceat an auspicious marriage in the family
and at the funeral of an old friend。 That the wedding which was
thus honoured was not the wedding of my mother I learned only
late in life； too late to bear a grudge against Mr。 Nicholas B。；
who made amends at my birth by a long letter of congratulation
containing the following prophecy： 〃He will see better times。〃
Even in his embittered heart there lived a hope。 But he was not
a true prophet。
He was a man of strange contradictions。 Living for many years in
his brother's house； the home of many children； a house full of
life； of animation； noisy with a constant coming and going of
many guests； he kept his habits of solitude and silence。
Considered as obstinately secretive in all his purposes； he was
in reality the victim of a most painful irresolution in all
matters of civil life。 Under his taciturn； phlegmatic behaviour
was hidden a faculty of short…lived passionate anger。 I suspect
he had no talent for narrative； but it seemed to afford him
sombre satisfaction to declare that he was the last man to ride
over the bridge of the river Elster after the battle of Leipsic。
Lest some construction favourable to his valour should be put on
the fact he condescended to explain how it came to pass。 It
seems that shortly after the retreat began he was sent back to
the town where some divisions of the French Army （and amongst
them the Polish corps of Prince Joseph Poniatowski）； jammed
hopelessly in the streets； were being simply exterminated by the
troops of the Allied Powers。 When asked what it was like in
there Mr。 Nicholas B。 muttered the only word 〃Shambles。〃 Having
delivered his message to the Prince he hastened away at once to
render an account of his mission to the superior who had sent
him。 By that time the advance of the enemy had enveloped the
town； and he was shot at from houses and chased all the way to
the river bank by a disorderly mob of Austrian Dragoons and
Prussian Hussars。 The bridge had been mined early in the morning
and his opinion was that the sight of the horsemen converging
from many sides in the pursuit of his person alarmed the officer
in command of the sappers and caused the premature firing of the
charges。 He had not gone more than 200 yards on the other side
when he heard the sound of the fatal explosions。 Mr。 Nicholas B。
concluded his bald narrative with the word 〃Imbecile〃 uttered
with the utmost deliberation。 It testified to his indignation at
the loss of so many thousands of lives。 But his phlegmatic
physiognomy lighted up when he spoke of his only wound； with
something resembling satisfaction。 You will see that there was
some reason for it when you learn that he was wounded in the
heel。 〃Like his Majesty the Emperor Napoleon himself；〃 he
reminded his hearers with assumed indifference。 There can be no
doubt that the indifference was assumed； if one thinks what very
distinguished sort of wound it was。 In all the history of
warfare there are； I believe； only three warriors publicly known
to have been wounded in the heelAchilles and Napoleondemi…
gods indeedto whom the familial piety of an unworthy descendant
adds the name of the simple mortal； Nicholas B。
The Hundred Days found Mr。 Nicholas B。 staying with a distant
relative of ours； owner of a small estate in Galicia。 How he got
there across the breadth of an armed Europe and after what
adventures I am afraid will never be known now。 All his papers
were destroyed shortly before his death； but if there was amongst
them； as he affirmed； a concise record of his life； then I am
pretty sure it did not take up more than a half…sheet of foolscap
or so。 This relative of ours happened to be an Austrian officer；
who had left the service after the battle of Austerlitz。 Unlike
Mr。 Nicholas B。； who concealed his decorations； he liked to
display his honourable discharge in which he was mentioned as
unschreckbar （fearless） before the enemy。 No conjunction could
seem more unpromising； yet it stands in the family tradition that
these two got on very well together in their rural solitude。
When asked whether he had not been sorely tempted during the
Hundred Days to make his way again to France and join the service
of his beloved Emperor； Mr。 Nicholas B。 used to mutter： 〃No
money。 No horse。 Too far to walk。〃
The fall of Napoleon and the ruin of national hopes affected
adversely the character of Mr。 Nicholas B。 He shrank from
returning to his province。 But for that there was also another
reason。 Mr。 Nicholas B。 and his brothermy maternal
grandfatherhad lost their father early； while they were quite
children。 Their mother； young still and left very well off；
married again a man of great charm and of an amiable disposition
but without a penny。 He turned out an affectionate and careful
stepfather； it was unfortunate though that while directing the
boys' education and forming their character by wise counsel he
did his best to get hold of the fortune by buying and selling
land in his own name and investing capital in such a manner as to
cover up the traces of the real ownership。 It seems that such
practices can be successful if one is charming enough to dazzle
one's own wife permanently and brave enough to defy the vain
terrors of public opinion。 The critical time came when the elder
of the boys on attaining his majority in the year 1811 asked for
the accounts and some part at least of the inheritance to begin
life upon。 It was then that the stepfather declared with calm
finality that there were no accounts to render and no property to
inherit。 The whole fortune was his very own。 He was very good…
natured about the young man's misapprehension of the true state
of affairs； but of course felt obliged to maintain his position
firmly。 Old friends came and went busily； voluntary mediators
appeared travelling on most horrible roads from the most distant
corners of the three provinces； and the Marshal of the Nobility
（ex…officio guardian of all well…born orphans） called a meeting
of landowners to 〃ascertain in a friendly way how the
misunderstanding between X and his stepsons had arisen and devise
proper measures to remove the same。〃 A d