Our names were read out (in a pretty accent, by the way!) by General
Montholon, and the Emperor, as each was pronounced, made a bow to the
owner of it, but did not vouchsafe a word. At last Montholon came to
mine. The Emperor looked me at once in the face, took his hands out
of his pockets, put them behind his back, and coming up to me smiling,
pronounced the following words:--
"Assaye, Delhi, Deeg, Futtyghur?"
I blushed, and taking off my hat with a bow, said--"Sire, c'est moi."
"Parbleu! je le savais bien," said the Emperor, holding out his
snuff-box. "En usez-vous, Major?" I took a large pinch (which, with the
honor of speaking to so great a man, brought the tears into my eyes),
and he continued as nearly as possible in the following words:--
"Sir, you are known; you come of an heroic nation. Your third brother,
the Chef de Bataillon, Count Godfrey Gahagan, was in my Irish brigade."
Gahagan.--"Sire, it is true. He and my countrymen in your Majesty's
service stood under the green flag in the breach of Burgos, and beat
Wellington back. It was the only time, as your Majesty knows, that
Irishmen and Englishmen were beaten in that war."
Napoleon (looking as if he would say, "D--- your candor, Major
Gahagan").--"Well, well; it was so. Your brother was a Count, and died a
General in my service.
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