The Emperor walked nervously1 up and down the long, low-ceiled apartment, the common room of the public inn at Nogent. Grouped around a long table in the center of the room several secretaries were busy with orders, reports and dispatches. At one end stood a group of officers of high rank in rich uniforms whose brilliance2 was shrouded3 by heavy cloaks falling from their shoulders and gathered about them, for the air was raw and chill, despite a great fire burning in a huge open fireplace. Their cloaks and hats were wet, their boots and trousers splashed with mud, and in general they were travel-stained and weary. They eyed the Emperor, passing and repassing, in gloomy silence mixed with awe4. In their bearing no less than in their faces was expressed a certain unwonted fierce resentment5, which flamed up and became more evident when the Emperor turned his back in his short, restless march to and fro, but which subsided6 as suddenly when he had them under observation. By the door was stationed a young officer in the uniform of the Fifth Regiment7 of the infantry8 of the line. He stood quietly at attention, and was evidently there on duty.
From time to time officers, orderlies and couriers came into the room, bearing dispatches. These were handed to the young officer and by him passed over to the Emperor. Never since the days of Job had any man perhaps been compelled to welcome such a succession of bearers of evil tidings as Napoleon on that winter night.
The Emperor's face was pale always, but there was an ashy grayness about his pallor in that hour that marked a difference. His face was lined and seamed, not to say haggard. The mask of imperturbability9 he usually wore was down. He looked old, tired, discouraged. His usual iron self-control and calm had given place to an overwhelming nervousness and incertitude10. He waved his hands, he muttered to himself, his mouth twitched11 awry12 from time to time as he walked.
"Well, messieurs," he began at last, in sharp, rather high-pitched notes—even his voice sounded differently—as he lifted his eyes from perusing13 the latest dispatch and faced the uneasy group by the fireplace, "you are doubtless anxious to know the news." The Emperor stepped over to the table as he spoke14, and gathered up a handful of dispatches and ran over them with his hands. "It is all set forth15 here: The Germans and the English have shut up Carnot in Antwerp," he continued rapidly, throwing one paper down. "The Bourbons have entered Brussels,"—he threw another letter upon the table—"Belgium, you see, is lost. Bernadotte has taken Denmark. Macdonald is falling back on Épernay, his weak force growing weaker every hour. Yorck, who failed us once before, is hard on his heels with twice, thrice, the number of his men. Sacken is trying to head him off. The King of Naples seeks to save the throne on which I established him by withdrawing from me now—the poor fool! The way to Paris along the Marne is open, and Blücher is marching on the capital with eighty thousand Russians, Prussians and Bavarians. Schwarzenburg with many more is close at hand."
Something like a hollow groan16 broke from the breasts of the auditors17 as the fateful dispatches fell one by one from the Emperor's hand. The secretaries stopped writing and stared. The young officer by the door clenched18 his hands.
"Sire——," said one of the officers, the rich trappings of whose dress indicated that he was a Marshal of France. He began boldly but ended timidly. "Before it is too late——"
Napoleon swung around and fixed19 his piercing eyes upon him, as his voice died away. The Emperor could easily finish the uncompleted sentence.
"What, you, Mortier!" he exclaimed.
"I, too, Sire," said another marshal more boldly, apparently20 encouraged by the fact that his brother officer had broken the ice.
"And you, Marmont," cried the Emperor, transfixing him in turn with a reproachful glance.
Both marshals stepped back abashed21.
"Besides," said the Emperor gloomily, "it is already too late. I have reserved the best for the last," he said with grim irony22. "The courier who has just departed is from Caulaincourt." He lifted the last dispatch, which he had torn open a moment or two since. He shook it in the air, crushed it in his hand, laughed, and those who heard him laugh shuddered23.
"What does the Duke of Vicenza say, Sire?" chimed in another marshal.
"It is you, Berthier," said the Emperor. "You, at least, do not advise surrender?"
"Not yet, Sire."
"But when?" asked Napoleon quickly. Without waiting for an answer to his question, he continued: "The allies now graciously offer us—think of it, gentlemen—the limits of 1791."
"Impossible!" cried a big red-headed marshal.
"They demand it, Prince of the Moskowa," answered the Emperor, addressing Marshal Ney.
"But it's incredible, Sire."
"What!" burst out Napoleon passionately24. "Shall we leave France less than we found her, after all these victories, after all these conquests, after all these submissions25 of kings and nations? Shall we go back to the limits of the old monarchy26? Never!"
"But, Sire——" began Marshal Maret.
"No more," said the Emperor, turning upon the Duc de Bassano. "Rather death than that. While we have arms we can at least die."
He flashed an imperious look upon the assembly, but no one seemed to respond to his appeal. The Emperor's glance slowly roved about the room. The young captain met his look. Instantly and instinctively27 his hand went up in salute28, his lips framed the familiar phrase:
"Vive l'Empereur! Yes, Sire, we can still die for you," he added in a low respectful voice, but with tremendous emphasis nevertheless.
He was a mere29 youth, apparently. Napoleon looked at him approvingly, although some of the marshals, with clouded brows and indignant words of protest at such an outburst from so young a man, would have reproved him had not their great leader checked them with a gesture.
"Your name, sir," he said shortly to the young officer who had been guilty of such an amazing breach30 of military decorum.
"Marteau, Sire. Jean Marteau, at the Emperor's service," answered the young soldier nervously, realizing what impropriety he had committed.
"It remains," said the Emperor, looking back at the marshals and their aides, "for a beardless boy to set an example of devotion in which Princes and Dukes of the Empire, Marshals of France, heroes of fifty pitched battles, fail."
"We will die for you, Sire, for France, die with arms in our hands, if we had them, and on the field of battle," began impetuous Ney.
"If we don't starve first, Sire," said cautious Berthier gloomily.
"Starve!" exclaimed the Emperor.
"The army is without food," said Marmont bluntly.
"It is half naked and freezing," added Victor.
"Ammunition31 fails us," joined in Oudinot.
"We have no arms," added Mortier.
"Do you, then, advise that we abandon ourselves to the tender mercies of the allies?" asked Napoleon bitterly.
"Messieurs, it is surely better to die hungry and naked and without arms for the Emperor than to consent to his dishonor, which is the dishonor of France," suddenly burst forth the young man at the door.
"How dare you," thundered the usually cool and collected Berthier angrily, "a mere boy, monsieur, assume to speak in the presence of the Emperor, to say nothing of these great captains?"
"May my life be forfeit32, Monsieur le Duc," said the young soldier more boldly, since Napoleon had condoned33 his first remark, "if I have done wrong in assuring my Emperor that we would still die for him."
"Of what regiment are you?" said Napoleon, waving Berthier of the frowning face into silence.
"I belong to the fifth of the line, Sire."
"He is in my corps34, Sire," said Ney. "I have brigaded that veteran regiment with the new recruits of the Young Guard."
"But I have seen service before," said the young captain.
"And I have seen you before," said Napoleon, fixing upon him a penetrating35 glance.
"Yes, Sire, at the end of the bridge over the Elster at Leipsic. You were watching the men streaming across when the bridge was blown up. I was among the last to cross the bridge."
"Go on," said the Emperor, as the young man paused.
"Your majesty36 was pleased to say——"
"I recall it all now. I saw you plunge37 into the river and bring back to shore an Eagle—that of your regiment. You fell at my feet. You should have had the Legion of Honor for it. I promised it to you, did I not?"
"Yes, Sire."
"Why did you not claim it?"
"I was wounded and left for dead; when I got back to France and my regiment I could not add to your anxiety by——"
"Here," said the Emperor, "I still have power to reward faithful servants and bold spirits." He took off his own cross, fastened it on the heaving breast of the amazed young soldier. "Prince," continued the Emperor, turning to Ney.
"Sire?"
"Spare me this young man. I need him on my staff."
"I can ill spare any officer from my weak corps of boys and old men, much less a veteran," the marshal laughed. "One campaign makes us veterans, it seems, nowadays, but you shall have him."
"Berthier," continued Napoleon, "make out the transfer. Give the young man a step up. Let him be Major."
"Very well, Sire," said Berthier, turning to one of the secretaries and giving him directions.
"Meanwhile, what's to be done?" continued Napoleon.
"Tell Caulaincourt to agree to anything," said Maret bluntly.
"I yet live," said Napoleon proudly. "Naked, starving, unarmed, though we may be, I and my soldiers have not forgot our trade. Courage, messieurs. All is not yet lost while your Emperor breathes. Here at Nogent, at Montereau and farther back we still have seventy thousand men. With seventy thousand men and Napoleon much may be accomplished38. Blücher, it is true, marches on Paris. He counts on the army of Schwarzenberg to contain us. He marches leisurely39, with wide intervals40 between his divisions. What shall prevent us——"
"Your majesty," cried Marmont, his eyes flashing as he divined the Emperor's plan.
He was the quickest witted and most brilliant of the marshals, but by no means the hardest fighter, or the most loyal and devoted41 subordinate.
"I am worn out," said the Emperor, smiling more kindly42 upon them. "I have scarcely been out of the saddle—I have scarcely had an hour of sleep since the bloody43 day of La Rothière. I must have rest. Let none disturb me for two hours. Hold the messenger from the Duke of Vicenza. I will give an answer then."
The Emperor drooped44, as he spoke, much of the animation45 went out of his face and figure. He looked grayer than ever, heavier than ever, older than ever.
"In two hours awaken46 me," he said.
He stepped toward the door that led to the room reserved for himself, but before he reached it two officers were admitted. Napoleon stopped and looked at them. They saluted47 him, walked over to Berthier, the Chief of Staff.
"The soldiers are dying of hunger," said the first. "The Commissary General has nothing to give them. He expected a convoy48 of provisions, but Cossacks, who are reported at Fontainebleau, have captured the train. What shall we do?"
Berthier threw up his hands, and turned to the other officer to hear his report.
"Ten thousand men are without arms, or with arms unserviceable and broken. The supply of powder is low. Where shall we get any more?"
The silence in the room was terrible.
"Sire," said Berthier in a low voice, turning to Napoleon, standing49 staring, "you hear?" He stretched out his hand in appealing gesture.
The Emperor turned on his heel, without deigning50 to look or speak.
"Watch the door for two hours," he said to the young officer, crashing to the door behind him. "Awaken me then."
"Gentlemen," said Berthier despairingly to the other officers, "we shall never persuade him. You had better repair to your commands. Some of you must have something to eat. Divide what you have with the less fortunate divisions. Arm and equip the best men. There is a small supply at Nogent, I am told. The others must wait."
"If we could only get at these pigs of Prussians, these dogs of Russians," said Ney, "we could take food and guns and powder from them."
"Doubtless," said Berthier, not caring to argue that point.
He bowed to the officers, as they saluted, and went out of the door muttering and arguing noisily and insubordinately, it must be admitted, and then turned to the table where the secretaries sat. One of them had laid his head down on his arms, stretched out on the table and was fast asleep. The marshal awoke him and dismissed him with most of the rest. From another Berthier took a paper. He examined it, signed it, sealed it, and handed it to the young officer on guard at the door.
"Your commission, monsieur," he said. "Once I was young and full of enthusiasm and hope and determination. It is well for France that some of her children still retain those things."
"I thank the Prince de Wagram," said the young officer, bowing low, "and I beg his pardon for having spoken."
"The Emperor has forgiven," said Berthier indifferently. "His absolution covers us all. At least if I fall behind you in those other qualities of youth I shall not fall behind you in devotion. Come, Maret," continued the grand marshal.
The two worthies51 turned away and went out. The long room sank into silence. A soldier came in after a while and replenished52 the fire, saluted and passed out. The pen of the busy secretary, the only one left of the group, ceased scratching on the paper. He, too, sank back in his chair asleep. The short day faded into twilight53 and then into darkness. From outside beyond the courtyard of the inn came confused noises, indicating moving bodies of men, the rumble54 of artillery55, the clatter56 of cavalry57, faint words of command. A light snow began to fall. It was intensely raw and cold. The officer picked up his cloak, wrapped it around him, and resumed his immobile guard.
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1
nervously
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| adv.神情激动地，不安地 | |
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2
brilliance
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| n.光辉，辉煌，壮丽，（卓越的）才华，才智 | |
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3
shrouded
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| v.隐瞒( shroud的过去式和过去分词 )；保密 | |
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4
awe
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| n.敬畏，惊惧；vt.使敬畏，使惊惧 | |
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5
resentment
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| n.怨愤，忿恨 | |
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6
subsided
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| v.（土地）下陷（因在地下采矿）( subside的过去式和过去分词 )；减弱；下降至较低或正常水平；一下子坐在椅子等上 | |
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7
regiment
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| n.团，多数，管理；v.组织，编成团，统制 | |
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8
infantry
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| n.[总称]步兵(部队) | |
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9
imperturbability
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| n.冷静；沉着 | |
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10
incertitude
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| n.疑惑，不确定 | |
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11
twitched
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| vt.& vi.（使）抽动，（使）颤动（twitch的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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12
awry
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| adj.扭曲的，错的 | |
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13
perusing
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| v.读（某篇文字）( peruse的现在分词 )；（尤指）细阅；审阅；匆匆读或心不在焉地浏览（某篇文字） | |
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14
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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15
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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16
groan
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| vi./n.呻吟，抱怨；(发出)呻吟般的声音 | |
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17
auditors
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| n.审计员，稽核员( auditor的名词复数 )；（大学课程的）旁听生 | |
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18
clenched
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| v.紧握，抓紧，咬紧( clench的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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19
fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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20
apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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21
abashed
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| adj.窘迫的，尴尬的v.使羞愧，使局促，使窘迫( abash的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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22
irony
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| n.反语，冷嘲；具有讽刺意味的事，嘲弄 | |
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23
shuddered
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| v.战栗( shudder的过去式和过去分词 )；发抖；（机器、车辆等）突然震动；颤动 | |
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24
passionately
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| ad.热烈地，激烈地 | |
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25
submissions
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| n.提交( submission的名词复数 )；屈从；归顺；向法官或陪审团提出的意见或论据 | |
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26
monarchy
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| n.君主，最高统治者；君主政体，君主国 | |
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27
instinctively
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| adv.本能地 | |
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28
salute
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| vi.行礼，致意，问候，放礼炮；vt.向…致意，迎接，赞扬；n.招呼，敬礼，礼炮 | |
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29
mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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30
breach
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| n.违反，不履行；破裂；vt.冲破，攻破 | |
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31
ammunition
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| n.军火，弹药 | |
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32
forfeit
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| vt.丧失；n.罚金，罚款，没收物 | |
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33
condoned
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| v.容忍，宽恕，原谅( condone的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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34
corps
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| n.(通信等兵种的)部队；(同类作的)一组 | |
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35
penetrating
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| adj.（声音）响亮的，尖锐的adj.（气味）刺激的adj.（思想）敏锐的，有洞察力的 | |
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36
majesty
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| n.雄伟，壮丽，庄严，威严；最高权威，王权 | |
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37
plunge
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| v.跳入，(使)投入，(使)陷入；猛冲 | |
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38
accomplished
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| adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的 | |
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39
leisurely
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| adj.悠闲的；从容的，慢慢的 | |
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40
intervals
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| n.[军事]间隔( interval的名词复数 )；间隔时间；[数学]区间；（戏剧、电影或音乐会的）幕间休息 | |
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41
devoted
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| adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的 | |
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42
kindly
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| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
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43
bloody
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| adj.非常的的；流血的；残忍的；adv.很；vt.血染 | |
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44
drooped
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| 弯曲或下垂，发蔫( droop的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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45
animation
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| n.活泼，兴奋，卡通片／动画片的制作 | |
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46
awaken
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| vi.醒，觉醒；vt.唤醒，使觉醒，唤起，激起 | |
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47
saluted
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| v.欢迎，致敬( salute的过去式和过去分词 )；赞扬，赞颂 | |
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48
convoy
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| vt.护送，护卫，护航；n.护送；护送队 | |
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49
standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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50
deigning
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| v.屈尊，俯就( deign的现在分词 ) | |
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51
worthies
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| 应得某事物( worthy的名词复数 )； 值得做某事； 可尊敬的； 有（某人或事物）的典型特征 | |
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52
replenished
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| 补充( replenish的过去式和过去分词 )； 重新装满 | |
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53
twilight
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| n.暮光，黄昏；暮年，晚期，衰落时期 | |
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54
rumble
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| n.隆隆声；吵嚷；v.隆隆响；低沉地说 | |
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55
artillery
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| n.(军)火炮，大炮；炮兵(部队) | |
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56
clatter
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| v./n.(使)发出连续而清脆的撞击声 | |
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57
cavalry
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| n.骑兵；轻装甲部队 | |
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