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tortured by the over-heavy pressure of the pen, a long list of indentations ...
    Saber thrust the paper at one of his officers.
    ‘Add the usual greetings!’
    He wouldn’t do it himself because he was so furious with the marshal for not following any of his suggestions for the defence of Paris. Lieutenant Dejal conscientiously tried to imitate Saber’s writing. He murmured, ‘I remain your most trusted and humble servant ...’ Saber yanked the paper from Dejal’s hand: his pen involuntarily traced a slanting line and, as if in rage, spat out a blob of black ink onto the light-coloured wood of the desk.
    ‘Have you lost your mind? Are you also going to add that I will come and polish his boots? Make the formula less obsequious! Rewrite the whole letter! Something like “Yours faithfully” - since I am obliged to be loyal. But dress it up a bit; he’s so sensitive!’
    He pretended to go back to dictating to his other factotum, before finally glancing at Margont and Lefine, who were waiting patiently to attention.
    ‘At ease. What’s the bad news?’
    Margont managed to get the two adjutant officers to leave. Then
    he explained, without going into detail, that he had been given a confidential mission and that he would like to use Lefine to help him. Saber was dismayed by Joseph’s letter. He wondered why the commander of the army and of the National Guard of Paris had not included him in the secret. How did that august leader hope to succeed in anything important to do with Paris without the help of Colonel Saber? He concluded that Joseph was an incompetent, exactly like Moncey, General Duhesme and all the others, and he felt more alone than ever.
    ‘Very well. I shall obey orders. Since Joseph is for once taking some decisive action, I shall not stand in his way! Lieutenant-Colonel Margont, Captain Piquebois will replace you in your duties. I will notify him. You may take Sergeant Lefine with you. I hope your mission will be speedily completed. You may go now.’
    He then called back his adjutant officers. Margont and Lefine were about to depart when Saber said, ‘A secret mission ... I don’t like the sound of that. Look after yourselves.’
    For a brief moment it was as if the old Saber had reappeared.
    Margont and Lefine went off as Saber’s voice rang out, seeming to pursue them down the corridor.
    ‘Lieutenant Dejal, have you not finished that letter to Marshal Moncey yet? Lieutenant Malsoux: letter to General Senator Comte Augustin de Lespinasse, commandant of the artillery and mastermind of the National Guard of Paris. “I still have not received the cannons which I am entitled to.” That’s the basic idea - make it a bit more formal and sign it with the absolute minimum of respect required by military hierarchy, which is much too generous to these charlatans. Lieutenant Dejal, still not finished with the marshal? My poor Dejal, don’t let yourself be intimidated by the word “marshal”. In fact you should get used to it, because you serve under me and ...’
    Margont and Lefine donned civilian clothes. Margont asked a soldier to take a letter to Medical Officer Jean-Quenin Brémond, who worked at the hospital Hotel-Dieu, where he treated the French and Allied injured that were flooding into Paris. As he was putting the note in the envelope and sealing it with candle-wax to protect it
    from prying eyes, he was imagining Jean-Quenin’s incredulous expression when he saw the request to join him at Colonel Berle’s house, his uniform hidden under a greatcoat, and to go in the back entrance without speaking to anyone but Mejun. However, Jean-Quenin was used to Margont’s apparently absurd requests: he would come if at all possible.
    Then, as they made rapidly for the scene of the crime, Margont explained the mission to Lefine.  

CHAPTER 4
    COLONEL Berle had known the golden age of the Empire, when competent men were rewarded handsomely. He therefore owned a large three-storey house that