Over wine in a café, after 70 years, many spent planting cabbages, Brigadier Gerard recounts his youthful peak aged 25. He faced certain death at every turn, while outwitting enemies of France. "Vive l'Emperor!" he cried across Europe. He knew his Hussar cavalry "rascals" would follow him, the best swordsman, rider, and wooer of ladies whether in Venice or Russia