"Doyle, Arthur Conan - The Adventures Of Gerard" - читать интересную книгу автора (Doyle Arthur Conan)

March, 1903.


CONTENTS

I. HOW BRIGADIER GERARD LOST HIS EAR

II. HOW THE. BRIGADIER CAPTURED SARAGOSSA

III. HOW THE BRIGADIER SLEW THE FOX

IV. HOW THE BRIGADIER SAVED THE ARMY

V. HOW THE BRIGADIER TRIUMPHED IN ENGLAND

VI. HOW THE BRIGADIER RODE TO MINSK

VII. HOW THE BRIGADE BORE HIMSELF AT WATERLOO

VIII. THE LAST ADVENTURE OF THE BRIGADIER




I. How Brigadier Gerard Lost His Ear


It was the old Brigadier who was talking in the cafe.

I have seen a great many cities, my friends. I would not dare to
tell you how many I have entered as a conqueror with eight
hundred of my little fighting devils clanking and jingling behind
me. The cavalry were in front of the Grande Armee, and the
Hussars of Conflans were in front of the cavalry, and I was in
front of the Hussars. But of all the cities which we visited
Venice is the most ill-built and ridiculous. I cannot imagine
how the people who laid it out thought that the cavalry could
manoeuvre. It would puzzle Murat or Lassalle to bring a squadron
into that square of theirs. For this reason we left Kellermann's
heavy brigade and also my own Hussars at Padua on the mainland.
But Suchet with the infantry held the town, and he had chosen me
as his aide- de-camp for that winter, because he was pleased
about the affair of the Italian fencing-master at Milan. The
fellow was a good swordsman, and it was fortunate for the credit
of French arms that it was I who was opposed to him. Besides, he
deserved a lesson, for if one does not like a prima donna's
singing one can always be silent, but it is intolerable that a
public affront should be put upon a pretty woman. So the
sympathy was all with me, and after the affair had blown over and
the man's widow had been pensioned Suchet chose me as his own