scout all around it； and gave warning by a bark if he found anything
unusual； thus on more than one occasion saving his comrades from ambush。
Among the officers who perished at the battle of Wagram； or rather in a
small engagement which took place after the battle had ended； one of
those most regretted by the soldiers was General Oudet。 He was one of
the bravest generals of the army； but what brings his name especially to
mind； among all those whom the army lost on that memorable day； is a note
which I have preserved of a conversation I held several years after this
battle with an excellent officer who was one of my sincerest friends。
In a conversation with Lieutenant…colonel B in 1812； he remarked； 〃I
must tell you； my dear Constant； of a strange adventure which happened to
me at Wagram。 I did not tell you at the time； because I had promised to
be silent； but since at the present time no one can be compromised by my
indiscretion； and since those who then had most to fear if their singular
ideas （for I can call them by no other name） had been revealed； would now
be first to laugh at them； I can well inform you of the mysterious
discovery I made at that period。
〃You well know that I was much attached to poor F whom we so much
regretted； and he was one of our most popular and attractive officers；
his good qualities winning the hearts of all； especially of those who
like himself had an unfailing fund of frankness and good humor。 All at
once I noticed a great change in his manner； as well as in that of his
habitual companions； they appeared gloomy； and met together no more for
gay conversation； but on the contrary spoke in low tones and with an air
of mystery。 More than once this sudden change had struck me； and if by
chance I met them in retired places； instead of receiving me cordially as
had always been their custom； they seemed as if trying to avoid me。 At
last； weary of this inexplicable mystery； I took F aside； and asked
him what this strange conduct meant。 'You have forestalled me； my dear
friend；' said he。 'I was on the point of making an important disclosure；
I trust you will not accuse me of want of confidence； but swear to me
before I confide in you that you will tell no living soul what I am now
going to reveal。' When I had taken this oath； which he demanded of me in
a tone of gravity which surprised me inexpressibly； he continued； 'If I
have not already told you of the 'Philadelphi'； it is only because I knew
that reasons which I respect would prevent your ever joining them； but
since you have asked this secret； it would be a want of confidence in
you； and at the same time perhaps an imprudence； not to reveal it。 Some
patriots have united themselves under the title of 'Philadelphi'； in
order to save our country from the dangers to which it is exposed。 The
Emperor Napoleon has tarnished the glory of the First Consul Bonaparte；
he had saved our liberty； but he has since destroyed it by the
reestablishment of the nobility and by the Concordat。 The society of the
'Philadelphi' has as yet no well…defined plans for preventing the evils
with which ambition will continue to overwhelm France； but when peace is
restored we shall see if it is impossible to force Bonaparte to restore
republican institutions； and meanwhile we are overcome by grief and
despair。 The brave chief of the 'Philadelphi'； the pure Oudet； has been
assassinated； and who is worthy to take his place？ Poor Oudet！ never
was one braver or more eloquent than he！ With a noble haughtiness and an
immovable firmness of character； he possessed an excellent heart。 His
first battle showed his intrepid spirit。 When cut down at Saint
Bartholomew by a ball； his comrades wished to bear him away； 〃No； no；〃
cried he； 〃don't waste time over me。 The Spaniards！ the Spaniards！〃
〃Shall we leave you to the enemy？〃 said one of those who had advanced
towards him。 〃Well； drive them back if you do not wish me to be left
with them。〃 At the beginning of the campaign of Wagram； he was colonel
of the Ninth regiment of the line； and was made general of brigade on the
evening before the battle； his corps forming part of the left wing
commanded by Massena。 Our line was broken on this side for a moment； and
Oudet made heroic efforts to reform it； and after he had been wounded by
three bayonet strokes； with the loss of much blood； and dragged away by
those of us who were forced to fall back； still had himself fastened on
his horse in order that he might not be forced to leave the battlefield。
〃'After the battle； he received orders to advance to the front； and to
place himself with his regiment in an advantageous position for
observation； and then return immediately to headquarters； with a certain
number of his officers； to receive new orders。 He executed these orders；
and was returning in the night； when a discharge of musketry was suddenly
heard； and he fell into an ambush； he fought furiously in the darkness；
knowing neither the number nor character of his adversaries； and at break
of day was found； covered with wounds； in the midst of twenty officers
who had been slain around him。 He was still breathing； and lived three
days； but the only words he pronounced were those of commiseration for
the fate of his country。 When his body was taken from the hospital to
prepare it for burial； several of the wounded in their despair tore the
bandages from their wounds； a sergeant…major threw himself on his sword
near the grave； and a lieutenant there blew out his brains。 Behold；'
said F； 'a death that plunges us into the deepest despair！' I tried
to prove to him that he was mistaken； and that the plans of the
'Philadelphi' were mad； but succeeded very imperfectly； and though he
listened to my advice； he again earnestly recommended secrecy。〃
The day after the battle of Wagram； I think； a large number of officers
were breakfasting near the Emperor's tent； the generals seated on the
grass； and the officers standing around them。 They discussed the battle
at length； and related numerous remarkable anecdotes； some of which
remain engraven on my memory。 A staff…officer of his Majesty said； 〃I
thought I had lost my finest horse。 As I had ridden him on the 5th and
wished him to rest； I gave him to my servant to hold by the bridle； and
when he left him one moment to attend to his own； the horse was stolen in
a flash by a dragoon； who instantly sold him to a dismounted captain；
telling him he was a captured horse。 I recognized him in the ranks； and
claimed him； proving by my saddle…bags and their contents that he was not
a horse taken from the Austrians； and had to repay the captain the five
louis which he had paid to the dragoon for this horse which had cost me
sixty。〃
The best anecdote； perhaps； of the day was this： M。 Salsdorf； a Saxon；
and surgeon in Prince Christian's regiment； in the beginning of the
battle had his leg fractured by a shell。 Lying on the ground； he saw；
fifteen paces from him； M。 Amedee de Kerbourg； who was wounded by a
bullet； and vomiting blood。 He saw that this officer would die of
apoplexy if something was not done for him； and collecting all his
strength； dragged himself along in the dust； bled him； and saved his
life。
M。 de Kerbourg had no opportunity to embrace the one who had saved his
life； for M。 de Salsdorf was carried to Vienna； and only survived the
amputation four days。
CHAPTER XXI。
At Schoenbrunn； as elsewhere； his Majesty marked his presence by his
benefactions。 I still retain vivid recollections of an occurrence which
long continued to be the subject of conversation at this period； and the
singular details of which render it worthy of narration。
A little girl nine years old； belonging to a very wealthy and highly
esteemed family of Constantinople； was carried away by bandits as she was
promenading one day with her attendant outside the city。 The bandits
carried their two captives to Anatolia； and there sold them。 The little
girl； who gave promise of great beauty； fell to the lot of a rich
merchant of Broussa； the harshest； most severe； and intractable man of
the town； but the artless grace of this child touched even his ferocious
heart。 He conceived a great affection for her； and distinguished her
from his other slaves by giving her only light employment； such as the
care of flowers； etc。 A European gentleman who lived with this merchant
offered to take charge of her education； to which the man consented； all
the more willingly since she had gained his heart； and he wished to make
her his wife as soon as she reached a marriageable age。 But the European
had the same idea； and as he was young； with an agreeable and intelligent
countenance； and very rich； he succeeded in winning the young slave's
affection； and she escaped one day from her master； and； like another
Heloise； followed her Abelard to Kutahie； where they remained concealed
for six months。
She was then ten years old。 Her preceptor； who became more devoted to
her each day； carried her to Constantinople； and confided her to the care
of a Greek bishop； charging him to make her a good Christian； and then
returned to Vienna； with the intention of obtaining the consent of his
family and the permission of his government to marry a slave。
Two years then passed； and the poor girl heard nothing from her future
husband。 Meanwhile the bishop had died； and his heirs had abandoned
Marie （this was the baptismal name of the convert）； and she； with no
means and no protector； ran the risk of being at any moment discovered by
some relation or friend of her familyand it is well known that the
Turks never forgive a change of religion。
Tormented by a thousand fears； weary of her retreat and the deep
obscurity in which she was buried； she took the bold resolution of
rejoining her benefactor； and not deterred by dangers of the road set out
from Constantinople alone on foot。 On her arrival in the capital of
Austria； she learned that her intended husband had been dead for more
than a year。
The despair into which the poor girl was plunged by this sad news can be
better imagined than described。 What was to be done？ What would become
of h