Military life in Italy : sketches - Societa italiana di storia militare

THE OFFICER OF THE GUARD. 2$
stretched his neck outside his
box, looked to the right and left
to see if
any one were coming, placed his musket in a corner,
wrapped himself in his cloak, sat down, put his head on his
knees, and went to sleep. The poor dreamer grew enraged at
the rascal, seized him by the shoulder, shook him, and opened
his mouth to utter some imprecation.
At that
point he thought he heard a slight noise above his
head ;
he raised his eyes
to the windows. From one of the
sills there projects and moves with uncertainty something black,
which stretches out, descends very slowly, and reaches the
ground
it is a
; rope. After having followed it with his eyes to
the ground, he raises them to the window, sees a head project,
two shoulders, and an entire body turn warily around, seize the
rope, descend, and disappear. He instantly dashes after him,
is close to him, comes up with him, stretches out his hand to
catch hold of him by his clothes . . .
At that moment he seems to be before a door, the door
of the cellar. He tries it lightly with his hand it ; gives.
Whew ! What an uproar
!
Clattering of dishes, a clinking of
glasses, a shouting of
hoarse and discordant voices, a confused
sound of oaths and songs, and an odor of pipes that drives one
backward. He stopped an instant, pushed the door again,
and threw it wide open. What a spectacle
! The room was
crowded with soldiers, some dressed, some in doublets, some
with the cape over the shoulders like a Spanish mantle, and
the cap thrown back, bravado fashion ;
others seated on the
tables, some astride, others on their faces, some stretched indecQntly
on the floor, their eyes shining glassy and stupefied,
their faces heated ;
others tipsy, others still more intoxicated ;
some dozing, the rest sleeping soundly. A few tried to rise