下载辰思小说免费APP
EncouragedbythesympathizingtonesofhisMajesty，Itookthelibertyofreplyingthatnoonecouldthinkofcomplainingofthefatigueorprivationsheendured，sincetheyweresharedbyhisMajesty；butthat，nevertheless，thedesireandhopeofeveryonewereforpeace。“Ah，yes，“repliedtheEmperor，withakindofsubduedviolence，“theywillhavepeace；theywillrealizewhatadishonorablepeaceis！“Ikeptsilence；hisMajesty\'schagrindistressedmedeeply；andIwishedatthismomentthathisarmycouldhavebeencomposedofmenofironlikehimself，thenhewouldhavemadepeaceonlyonthefrontiersofFrance。
ThetoneofkindnessandfamiliarityinwhichtheEmperorspoketomeonthisoccasionrecallsanothercircumstancewhichIneglectedtorelateinitsproperplace，andwhichImustnotpassoverinsilence，sinceitfurnishessuchafineexampleofhisMajesty\'sconducttowardsthepersonsofhisservice，andespeciallymyself。Roustanwitnessedtheoccurrence，anditwasfromhimIlearnedtheopeningdetails。
InoneofhiscampaignsbeyondtheRhine(Idonotrememberwhich)，Ihadpassedseveralnightsinsuccessionwithoutsleep，andwasexhausted。
TheEmperorwentoutateleveno\'clock，andremainedthreeorfourhours；
andIseatedmyselfinhisarmchair，nearhistable，toawaithisreturn，intendingtoriseandretireassoonasIheardhimenter，butwassoexhaustedwithfatiguethatsleepsuddenlyovertookme，andIdroppedintoadeepslumber，myheadrestingonmyarm，andmyarmonhisMajesty\'stable。TheEmperorreturnedatlastwithMarshalBerthier，andfollowedbyRoustan。Iheardnothing。ThePrincedeNeuchatelwishedtoapproachandshakemethatImightawakeandresigntohisMajestyhisseatandtable；buttheEmperorstoppedhim，saying，“Letthepoorfellowsleep；hehaspassedmanynightswithnone。“Then，astherewasnootherchairintheapartment，theEmperorseatedhimselfontheedgeofthebed，madethemarshalalsoseathimselfthere，andtheyheldalongconversationwhileIcontinuedtosleep。Atlength，needingoneofthemapsfromthetableonwhichmyarmrested，hisMajesty，althoughhedrewitoutmostcautiously，awokeme；andIimmediatelysprangtomyfeet，overwhelmedwithconfusion，andexcusingmyselfforthelibertyIhadsoinvoluntarilytaken。“MonsieurConstant，“theEmperorthensaidwithanexceedinglykindsmile，“Iamdistressedtohavedisturbedyou。Pray，excuseme。“Itrustthatthis，inadditiontowhatIhavealreadyrelatedofthesamenature，mayserveasananswertothosewhohaveaccusedhimofharshnesstohisservants。Iresumemyrecitaloftheeventsof1814。
Onthenightofthe8ththeEmperorseemedtohavedecidedonmakingpeace；andthewholenightwasspentinpreparingdispatches，whichonthemorningofthe9thatnineo\'clockwerebroughttohimtosign；buthehadchangedhismind。Atseveno\'clockhehadreceivednewsfromtheRussianandPrussianarmy；andwhentheDukeofBassanoentered，holdinginhishandthedispatchestobesigned，hisMajestywasasleepoverthemapswherehehadstuckhispens。“Ah，itisyou，“saidhetohisminister；“wewillnolongerneedthose。WearenowlayingplanstoattackBlucher；hehastakentheroadfromMontmirail。Iamabouttostart。To-morrowIwillfight，andagainthenextday。Theaspectofaffairsisonthepointofchanging，asweshallsee。Letusnotbeprecipitate；thereistimeenoughtomakesuchapeaceastheypropose。“
AnhourafterwewereontheroadtoSezanne。
Forseveraldaysinsuccessionafterthis，theheroiceffortsoftheEmperorandhisbravesoldierswerecrownedwithbrilliantsuccess。
ImmediatelyontheirarrivalatChamp-Aubert，thearmy，findingitselfinpresenceoftheRussianarmycorps，againstwhichtheyhadalreadyfoughtatBrienne，fellonitwithoutevenwaitingtotakerepose，separateditfromthePrussianarmy，andtookthegeneral-in-chiefandseveralgeneralofficersprisoners。HisMajesty，whoseconducttowardshisconqueredfoeswasalwayshonorableandgenerous，madethemdineathistable，andtreatedthemwiththegreatestconsideration。
TheenemywereagainbeatenattheFarmdesFrenauxbyMarshalsNeyandMortier，andbytheDukeofRagusaatVaux-Champs，whereBlucheragainnarrowlyescapedbeingmadeprisoner。AtNangistheEmperordispersedonehundredandfiftythousandmencommandedbythePrincevonSchwarzenberg，andorderedinpursuitofthemMarshalsOudinot，Kellermann，Macdonald，andGeneralsTreilhardandGerard。
TheeveofthebattleofWry，theEmperorinspectedallthesurroundingsofthislittletown；andhisobservingglassesrestedonanimmenseextentofmarshygroundinthemidstofwhichisthevillageofBagneux，andatashortdistancethevillageofAnglure，pastwhichtheAubeflows。Afterrapidlypassingovertheunsafegroundofthesedangerousmarshes，hesetfootonsolidground，andseatedhimselfonabundleofreeds，andthere，leaningagainstthewallofanight-hunter\'shut，heunrolledhismapofthecampaign；and，afterexaminingitafewmoments，remountedhishorseandsetoffatagallop。
AtthismomentaflockoftealandsnipeflewupbeforehisMajesty；andheexclaimedlaughingly:“Go，go，mybeauties；makeroomforothergame。“
HisMajestysaidtothosearoundhim，“Thistimewehavethem！“
TheEmperorwasgallopingtowardsAnglure，inordertoseeifthehillofBaudemont，whichisnearthisvillage，wasoccupiedbytheartillery，whenthenoiseofcannonheardinthedirectionofWrycompelledhimtoretracehissteps；andheaccordinglyreturnedtoWry，sayingtotheofficerswhoaccompaniedhim，“Letusgallop，gentlemen，ourenemiesareinahurry；weshouldnotkeepthemwaiting。“Ahalfhourafterhewasonthebattlefield。EnormouscloudsofsmokefromtheburningofWryweredriveninthefacesoftheRussianandPrussiancolumns，andpartlyhidthemaneuversoftheFrencharmy。AtthatmomenteverythingindicatedthesuccessoftheplanstheEmperorhadformedthatmorninginthemarshesofBagneux，forallwentwell。HisMajestyforesawthedefeatoftheallies，andFrancesaved，whileatAnglureallweregivenuptodespair。Thepopulationofmanyvillagesshudderedattheapproachoftheenemy；fornotapieceofcannonwastheretocutofftheirretreat，notasoldiertopreventthemfromcrossingtheriver。
ThepositionoftheallieswassoexceedinglycriticalthatthewholeFrencharmybelievedthemdestroyed，astheyhadplungedwithalltheirartilleryintothemarshes，andwouldhavebeenmoweddownbytheshowerofballsfromourcannoniftheyhadremainedthere。Butsuddenlytheywereseentomakeaneweffort，placethemselvesinlineofbattle，andpreparetopasstheAube。TheEmperor，whocouldpursuethemnofartherwithoutexposinghisarmytothedangerofbeingswallowedupinthemarshes，arrestedtheimpetuosityofhissoldiers，believingthattheheightsofBaudemontwerecoveredwithartilleryreadytooverwhelmtheenemy；buthearingnotasingleshotinthisdirection，hehurriedtoSezannetohastentheadvanceofthetroops，onlytolearnthatthoseheexpectedtofindtherehadbeensenttowardFereChampenoise。
Duringthisinterval，amannamedAnsart，alandowneratAnglure，mountedhishorse，andhurriedattheutmostspeedtoSezanneinordertoinformthemarshalthattheenemywerepursuedbytheEmperor，andabouttocrosstheAube。HavingreachedtheDuke，andseeingthatthecorpshecommandedwasnottakingtheroadtoAnglure，hehastenedtospeak。
ApparentlytheEmperor\'s，ordershadnotbeenreceived；forthemarshalwouldnotlistentohim，treatedhimasaspy，anditwaswithmuchdifficultythisbravemanescapedbeingshot。
Whilethisscenewastakingplace，hisMajestyhadalreadyreachedSezanne；andseeingmanyinhabitantsofthisvillagearoundhim，herequestedsomeonetoguidehimtoFereChampenoise，whereuponabailiffpresentedhimself。TheEmperorimmediatelysetout，escortedbytheofficerswhohadaccompaniedhimtoSezanne，andleftthetown，sayingtohisguide，“Goinfront，monsieur，andtaketheshortestroad。“ArrivedatashortdistancefromthebattlefieldofFereChampenoise，hisMajestysawthateveryreportoftheartillerymadethepoorbailiffstart。“Youareafraid，“saidtheEmperortohim。“No，Sire。“——“Then，whatmakesyoudodgeyourhead？“——“ItisbecauseIamnotaccustomedlikeyourMajestytohearingallthisuproar。“——“Oneshouldaccustomhimselftoeverything。
Fearnothing；keepon。“Buttheguide，moredeadthanalive，reinedinhishorse，andtrembledineverylimb。“Come，come；Iseeyouarereallyafraid。Gobehindme。“Heobeyed，turnedhishorse\'shead，andgallopedasfarasSezannewithoutstopping，promisinghimselfmostfaithfullyneveragaintoserveasguidetotheEmperoronsuchanoccasion。
AtthebattleofMery，theEmperor，undertheveryfireoftheenemy，hadalittlebridgethrownovertheriverwhichflowsnearthetown。Thisbridgewasconstructedinanhourbymeansofladdersfastenedtogether，andsupportedbywoodenbeams；butasthiswasnotsufficient，itwasnecessarythatplanksshouldbeplacedonthis。Nonecouldbefound，however；forthosewhomighthavebeenabletoprocurethemdidnotdaretoapproachtheexposedspothisMajestyoccupiedatthismoment。
Impatient，andevenangry，becausehecouldnotobtaintheplanksforthisbridge，hisMajestyhadtheshuttersofseverallargehousesashortdistancefromtherivertakendown，andhadthemplacedandnaileddownunderhisowneyes。Duringthisworkhewastormentedbyintensethirst，andwasabouttodipwaterupinhishandtoslakeit，whenayounggirl，whohadbraveddangerinordertodrawneartheEmperor，rantoaneighboringhouse，andbroughthimaglassofwaterandsomewine，whichheeagerlydrank。
Astonishedtoseethisyounggirlinsoperilousaplace，theEmperorsaidtoher，smiling，“Youwouldmakeabravesoldier，Mademoiselle；andifyouarewillingtowearepauletsyoushallbeoneofmyaides-de-
camp。“Theyounggirlblushed，andmadeacourtesytotheEmperor，andwasgoingaway，whenheheldouthishandtoher，andshekissedit。
“Later，“hesaid，“cometoParis，andremindmeoftheserviceyouhaverenderedmeto-day。Youwillbesatisfiedofmygratitude。“ShethankedtheEmperorandwithdrew，veryproudofhiswordsofcommendation。
ThedayofthebattleofNangisanAustrianofficercameintheeveningtoheadquarters，andhadalong，secretconferencewithhisMajesty。
Forty-eighthoursafter，atthecloseoftheengagementatMery，appearedanewenvoyfromthePrincevonSchwarzenberg，withareplyfromtheEmperorofAustriatotheconfidentialletterwhichhisMajestyhadwrittentwodaysbeforetohisfather-in-law。WehadleftMeryinflames；andinthelittlehammockofChatres，whereheadquartershadbeenestablished，therecouldnoshelterbefoundforhisMajestyexceptintheshopofawheelwright；andtheEmperorpassedthenightthere，working，orlyingonthebedalldressed，withoutsleeping。ItwastherealsohereceivedtheAustrianenvoy，thePrinceofLichtenstein。TheprincelongremainedinconversationwithhisMajesty；andthoughnothingwasknownofthesubjectoftheirconversation，noonedoubtedthatitrelatedtopeace。Afterthedepartureoftheprince，theEmperorwasinextraordinarilyhighspirits，whichaffectedallthosearoundhim。
Ourarmyhadtakenfromtheenemythousandsofprisoners；ParishadjustreceivedtheRussianandPrussianbannerstakenatNangisandMontereau；
theEmperorhadputtoflighttheforeignsovereigns，whoevenfearedforatimethattheymightnotbeabletoregainthefrontiers；andtheeffectofsomuchsuccesshadbeentorestoretohisMajestyhisformerconfidenceinhisgoodfortune，thoughthiswasunfortunatelyonlyadangerousillusion。
ThePrinceofLichtensteinhadhardlyleftheadquarterswhenM。deSaint-
Aignan，thebrother-in-lawoftheDukeofVicenza，andequerryoftheEmperor，arrived。M。deSaint-Aignanwent，Ithink，tohisbrother-in-
law，whowasattheCongressofChatillon，oratleasthadbeen；forthesessionsofthiscongresshadbeensuspendedforseveraldays。ItseemsthatbeforeleavingParisM。deSaint-AignanheldaninterviewwiththeDukeofRovigoandanother，minister，andtheyhadgivenhimaverbalmessagetotheEmperor。Thismissionwasbothdelicateanddifficult。
HewouldhavemuchpreferredthatthesegentlemenshouldhavesentinwritingthecommunicationswhichtheyinsistedheshouldbeartohisMajesty，buttheyrefused；andasafaithfulservantM。deSaint-Aignanperformedhisduty，andpreparedtospeakthewholetruth，whateverdangerhemightincurbysodoing。
Whenhearrivedatthewheelwright\'sshopatChatres，theEmperor，aswehavejustseen，wasabandoninghimselftomostbrilliantdreams；whichcircumstancewasmostunfortunateforM。deSaint-Aignan，sincehewasthebearerofdisagreeablenews。Hecame，aswehavelearnedsince，toannouncetohisMajestythatheshouldnotcountuponthepublicmindatthecapital，sincetheyweremurmuringattheprolongationofthewar，anddesiredthattheEmperorshouldseizetheoccasionofmakingpeace。
IthasevenbeenstatedthattheworddisafectionwasutteredduringthissecretconferencebythesincereandtruthfullipsofM。deSaint-Aignan。
Icannotassertthatthisistrue；forthedoorwascloselyshut，andM。
deSaint-Aignanspokeinalowtone。Itiscertain，however，thathisreportandhiscandorexcitedhisMajesty\'sangertothehighestdegree；
andindismissinghimwithanabruptnesshehadcertainlynotmerited，theEmperorraisedhisvoicetosuchapitchastobeheardoutside。
WhenM。deSaint-Aignanwithdrew，andhisMajestysummonedmetomydutiesnearhim，Ifoundhimmuchagitated，andpalewithanger。AfewhoursafterthisscenetheEmperororderedhishorse，andM。deSaint-
Aignan，whohadresumedhisdutiesasequerry，approachedtoholdhisstirrup；butassoonastheEmperorperceivedhimhethrewonhimanangryglance，madehimasigntowithdraw，exclaimingloudly，“Mesgrigny！“ThiswasBarondeMesgrigny，anotherofhisMajesty\'ssquires。IncompliancewithhisMajesty\'swishes，M。deMesgrignyperformedthedutiesofM。deSaint-Aignan，whowithdrewtotherearofthearmytowaittillthestormshouldbepast。Attheendofafewdayshisdisgracewasended，andallwhoknewhimrejoiced；fortheBarondeSaint-Aignanwasbelovedbyallforhisaffabilityandloyalty。
FromChatrestheEmperormarchedonTroyes。Theenemywhooccupiedthistownseemedatfirstdisposedtodefendthemselvesthere，butsoonyielded，andevacuateditatthecloseofacapitulation。Duringtheshorttimethe，alliespassedatTroyes，theRoyalistshadpubliclyannouncedtheirhatredtotheEmperor，andtheiradherencetothealliedpowers，whocame，theysaid，onlytoestablishtheBourbonsonthethrone，andevenhadtheimprudencetodisplaythewhiteflagandwhitecockade；andtheforeigntroopshadconsequentlyprotectedthem，whileexercisingextremeharshnessandseveritytowardsthoseinhabitantswhoheldcontraryopinions。
UnfortunatelyfortheRoyaliststheywereinaveryfeebleminority，andthefavorshowntothembytheRussiansandPrussiansledthepopulaceoppressedbythelattertohatetheprotegesasmuchastheirprotectors。
EvenbeforetheentranceoftheEmperorintoTroyes，Royalistproclamationsaddressedtotheofficersofhishouseholdorthearmyhadfallenintohishands。Hehadshowednoanger，buthadurgedthosewhohadreceived，orwhomightreceive，communicationsofthisnature，todestroythem，andtoinformnooneofthecontents。OnhisarrivalatTroyeshisMajestyrenderedadecreeproclaimingpenaltyofdeathagainstallFrenchmenintheserviceoftheenemy，andthosewhoworetheemblemsanddecorationsoftheancientdynasty。Anunfortunateemigre，accusedbeforeacouncilofwar，wasconvictedofhavingwornthecrossofSt。
LouisandthewhitecockadeduringthestayofthealliesatTroyes，andofhavingfurnishedtotheforeigngeneralsalltheinformationinhispower。
Thecouncilpronouncedsentenceofdeath，fortheproofswerepositive，andthelawnotlessso；andChevalierGonaultfellavictimtohisill-
judgeddevotiontoacausewhichwasstillfarfromappearingnational，especiallyinthedepartmentsoccupiedbythealliedarmies，andwasexecutedaccordingtomilitaryusage。
EndRECOLLECTIONSOFTHEPRIVATELIFEOFNAPOLEON，V12
BYCONSTANT
PREMIERVALETDECHAMBRE
TRANSLATEDBYWALTERCLARK
1895
CONTENTS:
CHAPTERXXIV。toCHAPTERXXXI。
CHAPTERXXIV。
AfterthebrilliantsuccessesobtainedbytheEmperorinsuchashorttime，andwithforcessoexceedinglyinferiortothegreatmassesoftheenemy，hisMajesty，realizingthenecessityofallowinghistroopstotakearestofsomedaysatTroyes，enteredintonegotiationsforanarmisticewiththePrincevonSchwarzenberg。
AtthisjunctureitwasannouncedtotheEmperorthatGeneralBlucher，whohadbeenwoundedatMery，wasdescendingalongbothbanksoftheMaine，attheheadofanarmyoffreshtroops，estimatedatnotlessthanonehundredthousandmen，andthathewasmarchingonMeaux。ThePrincevonSchwarzenberg，havingbeeninformedofthismovementofBlucher\'s，immediatelycutshortthenegotiations，andassumedtheoffensiveatBar-
sur-Seine。TheEmperor，whosegeniusfollowedbyasingleglanceallthemarchesand，operationsoftheenemy，thoughhecouldnotbeeverywhereatonce，resolvedtoconfrontBlucherinperson，whilebymeansofastratagemhemadeitappearthathewaspresentoppositeSchwarzenberg；
andtwoarmycorps，commanded，onebyMarshalOudinot，theotherbyMarshalMacdonald，werethensenttomeettheAustrians。Assoonasthetroopsapproachedtheenemy\'scamptheymadetheairresoundwiththeshoutsofconfidenceandcheerswithwhichtheyusuallyannouncedthepresenceofhisMajesty，thoughatthisverymomenthewasrepairinginallhastetomeetGeneralBlucher。
WehaltedatthelittlevillageofHerbisse，wherewepassedthenightinthemanse；andthecurate，seeingtheEmperorarrivewithhismarshals，aides-de-camp，ordnanceofficers，serviceofhonor，andtheotherservices，almostlosthiswits。HisMajestyonalightingsaidtohim，“MonsieurleCure，wecometoaskyourhospitalityforanight。Donotbefrightenedbythisvisit；weshalldisturbyouaslittleaspossible。“
TheEmperor，conductedbythegoodcurate，besidehimselfwitheagernessandembarrassment，establishedhimselfintheonlyapartmentthehousecontained，whichservedatthesametimeaskitchen，diningroom，bedroom，cabinet，andreception-room。InaninstanthisMajestyhadhismapsandpapersspreadoutbeforehim，andpreparedhimselfforworkwithasmucheaseasinhiscabinetattheTuileries。Butthepersonsofhissuiteneededsomewhatmoretimetoinstallthemselves，foritwasnoeasythingforsomanypersonstofindaplaceinabakehousewhich，withtheroomoccupiedbyhisMajesty，composedtheentiremanseofHerbisse；butthesegentlemen，althoughtherewereamongthemmorethanonedignitaryandprinceoftheEmpire，wereuncomplaining，andreadilydisposedtoaccommodatethemselvestocircumstances。Thegaygoodhumorofthesegallantsoldiers，inspiteofallthecombatstheyhadtosustaineachday，whileeventseveryinstanttookamorealarmingturn，wasmostnoteworthy，anddepictswelltheFrenchcharacter。
Theyoungestofficersformedacirclearoundthecurate\'sniece，whosangtothemthesongsofthecountry。Thegoodcurate，inthemidstofcontinualcomingsandgoings，andtheeffortshemadetoplayworthilyhisroleofmasterofthemansion，foundhimselfattackedonhisownterritory，thatistosay，onhisbreviary，byMarshalLefebvre，whohadstudiedinhisyouthtobeapriest，andsaidthathehadpreservednothingfromhisfirstvocationexcepttheshavenhead，becauseitwassoeasytocomb。TheworthymarshalintermingledhisLatinquotationswiththosemilitaryexpressionshesofreelyused，causingthosepresenttoindulgeinburstsoflaughter，inwhicheventhecuratehimselfjoined，andsaid，“Monseigneur，ifyouhadcontinuedyourstudiesforthepriesthoodyouwouldhavebecomeacardinalatleast。“——“Verylikely，“
observedoneoftheofficers；andiftheAbbeMauryhadbeenasergeant-
majorin\'89，hemightto-daybemarshalofFrance。“——“Ordead，“addedtheDukeofDantzic，usingamuchmoreenergeticexpression；“andsomuchthebetterforhim，sinceinthatcasehewouldnotseetheCossackstwentyleaguesfromParis。“——“Oh，bah！Monseigneur，wewilldrivethemaway，“saidthesameofficer。“Yes，“themarshalmutteredbetweenhisclinchedteeth；“weshallseewhatweshallsee。“
Atthismomentthemulearrivedbearingthesutler\'ssupplies，whichhadbeenlongandimpatientlyexpected。Therewasnotable；butonewasmadeofadoorplacedoncasks，andseatswereimprovisedwithplanks。Thechiefofficersseatedthemselves，andtheothersatestanding。Thecuratetookhisplaceatthismilitarytableonwhichhehadhimselfplacedhisbestbottlesofwine，andwithhisnativebonhomiecontinuedtoentertaintheguests。AtlengththeconversationturnedonHerbisseanditssurroundings，andthehostwasovercomewithastonishmentonfindingthathisguestsknewthecountrysothoroughly。
“Ah，Ihaveit！“exclaimedhe，consideringthemattentivelyoneaftertheother；“youareChampenois！“Andinordertocompletehissurprisethesegentlemendrewfromtheirpocketsplansonwhichtheymadehimreadthenamesoftheverysmallestlocalities。Thenhisastonishmentonlychangeditsobject，forhehadneverdreamedthatmilitarysciencerequiredsuchexactstudy。“Whatlabor！“repliedthegoodcurate，“whatpains！andallthisinorderthebettertoshootcannon-ballsateachother！“Thesupperover，thenextthoughtwasthearrangementsforsleeping；andforthispurposewefoundintheneighboringbarnsashelterandsomestraw。Thereremainedoutside，andnearthedooroftheroomoccupiedbytheEmperor，onlytheofficersonduty，Roustanandmyself，eachofwhomhadabundleofstrawforhisbed。Ourworthyhost，havinggivenuphisbedtohisMajesty，remainedwithus，andrestedlikeusfromthefatiguesoftheday，andwasstillsleepingsoundlywhenthestaffleftthemanse；fortheEmperorarose，andsetoffatbreakofday。
ThecuratewhenheawokeexpressedthedeepestchagrinthathehadnotbeenabletomakehisadieuxtohisMajesty。ApursewashandedhimcontainingthesumtheEmperorwasaccustomedtoleaveprivateindividualsoflimitedmeansatwhoseresidenceshehaltedasindemnityfortheirexpenseandtrouble；andweresumedourmarchinthestepsoftheEmperor，whohastenedtomeetthePrussians。
TheEmperorwishedtoreachSoissonsbeforetheallies；butalthoughtheyhadbeenobligedtotraverseroadswhichwerepracticallyimpassable，theyhadarrivedbeforeourtroops，andasheenteredLaFertehisMajestysawthemretiringtoSoissons。TheEmperorwasrejoicedatthissight。Soissonswasdefendedbyaformidablegarrison，andcoulddelaytheenemy，whileMarshalsMarmontandMortierandhisMajestyinpersonattackedBlucherintherearandonbothflanks，andwouldhaveinclosedhimasinanet。ButthistimeagaintheenemyescapedfromthesnaretheEmperorhadlaidforhimattheverymomenthethoughthehadseizedhim，forBlucherhadhardlypresentedhimselfinfrontofSoissonsbeforethegateswereopened。GeneralMoreau，commandantoftheplace，hadalreadysurrenderedthetowntoBillow，andthusassuredtothealliesthepassageoftheAisne。OnreceivingthisdepressingnewstheEmperorexclaimed，“ThenameofMoreauhasalwaysbeenfataltome！“
MeanwhilehisMajesty，continuinghispursuitofthePrussians，wasoccupiedindelayingthepassageoftheAisne。Onthe5thofMarchhesentGeneralNansoutyinadvance，whowithhiscavalrytookthebridge，drovetheenemybackasfarasCorbeny，andmadeaRussiancolonelprisoner。AfterpassingthenightatBery-au-Bac，theEmperorwasmarchingtowardsLaonwhenitwasannouncedtohimthattheenemywascomingtomeetus；thesewerenotPrussians，butanarmycorpsofRussianscommandedbySacken。Onadvancingfarther，wefoundtheRussiansestablishedontheheightsofCraonne，andcoveringtheroadtoLaoninwhatappearedtobeanimpregnableposition；butneverthelesstheadvanceguardofourarmy，commandedbyMarshalNey，rushedforwardandsucceededintakingCraonne。Thatwasenoughgloryforthistime，andbothsidesthenpassedthenightpreparingforthebattleofnextday。
TheEmperorspentitatthevillageofCorbeny，butwithoutsleeping，asinhabitantsoftheneighboringvillagesarrivedatallhourstogiveinformationastothepositionoftheenemyand
