WhenNeydashedupontheadvanceofthealliedtroops，carryingonepositionaftertheother，untilthearrivalofthegreatbodyoftheBritisharmyfromBrusselschangedtheaspectofthecombatofQuatreBras，thesquadronsamongwhichRegulusrodeshowedthegreatestactivityinretreatingbeforetheFrench，andweredislodgedfromonepostandanotherwhichtheyoccupiedwithperfectalacrityontheirpart。TheirmovementswereonlycheckedbytheadvanceoftheBritishintheirrear。Thusforcedtohalt，theenemy’scavalrywhosebloodthirstyobstinacycannotbetooseverelyreprehendedhadatlengthanopportunityofcomingtoclosequarterswiththebraveBelgiansbeforethem；whopreferredtoencountertheBritishratherthantheFrench，andatonceturningtailrodethroughtheEnglishregimentsthatwerebehindthem，andscatteredinalldirections。Theregimentinfactdidnotexistanymore。Itwasnowhere。Ithadnohead-quarters。Regulusfoundhimselfgallopingmanymilesfromthefieldofaction，entirelyalone；andwhithershouldheflyforrefugesonaturallyastothatkitchenandthosefaithfularmsinwhichPaulinehadsooftenwelcomedhim？
Atsometeno’clocktheclinkingofasabremighthavebeenheardupthestairofthehousewheretheOsbornesoccupiedastoryinthecontinentalfashion。Aknockmighthavebeenheardatthekitchendoor；andpoorPauline，comebackfromchurch，faintedalmostwithterrorassheopeneditandsawbeforeherherhaggardhussar。HelookedaspaleasthemidnightdragoonwhocametodisturbLeonora。Paulinewouldhavescreamed，butthathercrywouldhavecalledhermasters，anddiscoveredherfriend。Shestifledherscream，then，andleadingherherointothekitchen，gavehimbeer，andthechoicebitsfromthedinner，whichJoshadnothadthehearttotaste。Thehussarshowedhewasnoghostbytheprodigiousquantityoffleshandbeerwhichhedevoured——andduringthemouthfulshetoldhistaleofdisaster。
Hisregimenthadperformedprodigiesofcourage，andhadwithstoodforawhiletheonsetofthewholeFrencharmy。Buttheywereoverwhelmedatlast，aswasthewholeBritisharmybythistime。Neydestroyedeachregimentasitcameup。TheBelgiansinvaininterposedtopreventthebutcheryoftheEnglish。TheBrunswickerswereroutedandhadfled——theirDukewaskilled。Itwasageneraldebacle。Hesoughttodrownhissorrowforthedefeatinfloodsofbeer。
Isidor，whohadcomeintothekitchen，heardtheconversationandrushedouttoinformhismaster。”Itisallover。”heshriekedtoJos。”MilorDukeisaprisoner；
theDukeofBrunswickiskilled；theBritisharmyisinfullflight；thereisonlyonemanescaped，andheisinthekitchennow——comeandhearhim。”SoJostotteredintothatapartmentwhereRegulusstillsateonthekitchentable，andclungfasttohisflagonofbeer。InthebestFrenchwhichhecouldmuster，andwhichwasinsoothofaveryungrammaticalsort，Josbesoughtthehussartotellhistale。ThedisastersdeepenedasRegulusspoke。Hewastheonlymanofhisregimentnotslainonthefield。