Part 71 (1/2)

”Your reply was fitting and to the point,” said Napoleon, with a pleasant nod, while he opened the emperor's letter and glanced over it. ”Phrases, empty words,” he then exclaimed, throwing the letter contemptuously on the table. ”Talleyrand was right when he said language was given to us for the purpose of concealing our thoughts. Those men use it for that purpose.”

”Sire, the emperor did not conceal his thoughts during our interview,”

replied the general. ”I conversed with him long and freely, and I may say that he uttered his opinions very frankly. The Emperor Alexander said: 'Peace was only to be thought of if your majesty should stipulate reasonable terms which would not hurt anybody's feelings, and which would not be calculated to weaken the power and importance of the other princes and to increase that of France. France was a power already large enough; she needed no aggrandizement, and the other powers could not tolerate such a one.'”

”Ah, I shall teach them to tolerate it nevertheless; I shall prove to all of them that France is at the head of all monarchies, and compel them to recognize the Emperor of France with bowed heads!”

He paced the room hastily with angry eyes and panting breast. His steps, however, became gradually more quiet, and the furrows disappeared from his forehead.

”I need two days more,” he muttered to himself--”two days, and I must have them, Savary.” He then said aloud, turning to the general: ”Did you make no further observations? Did you not notice the spirit animating the Russian camp?” ”Sire, the whole youth of the highest Russian n.o.bility were at the emperor's headquarters, and I conversed with many of them; I heard and observed a great many things.”

”Well, and what do they think of us?”

Savary smiled. ”Sire,” he said, ”those young men did not breathe any thing but war and victory, and they seemed to believe that your majesty wished to avoid active hostilities since the Russians had formed a junction with the Austrians.”

”Ah, did they seem to believe that?” exclaimed Napoleon, joyfully.

”Well, we will try to strengthen their belief. General, take a bugler along and return to the headquarters of the emperor. Tell him that I propose to him an interview for to-morrow in the open field between the two armies, the time and hour to be designated by himself, and a cessation of hostilities to take place for the next twenty-four hours.

Go!”

”I believe,” said the emperor, when he was alone again, ”I believe I have gained my second day also, and I only want a third one, in order to be able to vanquish all my enemies. Those arrogant Russians believe, then, that I wish to avoid a battle, and to remain in my present position? I will try to strengthen this opinion of theirs; earthworks shall be thrown up, and the batteries shall be fortified. Every thing must have the appearance of anxiety and timidity.”

And Napoleon summoned his generals and gave them aloud these new orders, but, in a whisper, he instructed them to begin the retrograde movement, and to let the troops occupy the positions he had selected for them on the extensive ground he had reconnoitered yesterday.

And the night expired, and half the next day, before General Savary returned from his mission. In the mean time Napoleon had changed his quarters. He had repaired to the camp of his army, and a bundle of straw was now his only couch. He had impatiently looked for Savary, and went to meet him with hasty steps.

”Why so late?” he asked.

”Sire, it was almost impossible for me to reach the emperor. He had left Olmutz. All the night long I was conducted from bivouac to bivouac, in order to find Prince Bagration, who could alone take me to the emperor.”

”And you have seen the emperor?” asked Napoleon, impatiently.

”Yes, sire, after overcoming many obstacles and difficulties, I succeeded in penetrating to the emperor. I submitted your majesty's proposition to him. The emperor replied: 'It would afford him the greatest pleasure to see and make the acquaintance of your majesty, but time was too short for it now. Moreover, before entering into such negotiations, he would have to consult the Emperor of Austria, and learn your majesty's views, so as to be able to see whether such an interview would be advisable or not. Hence, he would send one of his confidential advisers with me, and intrust him with a mission to your majesty. The reply which he would bring to him from your majesty would decide the matter.'”

”Ah, and the third day will pa.s.s in this manner!” exclaimed Napoleon, joyfully. ”Where is the emperor's envoy? and who is it?”

”Sire, the emperor sent his first aide-de-camp, Prince Dolgorouki, with me.”

”Where is he?”

”Sire, I left him with the grand-guard; he is waiting there for your majesty's orders.”

Napoleon rose hastily from the straw, on which he had been sitting with folded arms.

”My horse!” he shouted; and when Roustan had brought his charger, he vaulted into the saddle and galloped so rapidly forward that his suite were scarcely able to overtake him. On arriving close to the grand-guard, he halted and alighted, and while he sent off Savary to conduct Prince Dolgorouki to him, he muttered: ”Only a third day!”

He received the prince with the calmness and composure of a proud imperator, of a chieftain accustomed to victory. A wave of his hand caused his suite to stand back; and when the officers had withdrawn, he commenced conversing with Prince Dolgorouki, while walking up and down with him.

The emperor suddenly approached the members of his suite, and they heard him say in a loud and angry voice:

”If that is all you wish to say to me, hasten to inform your emperor that I had not thought at all of such conditions when I applied for an interview with him; I should only have shown him my army; and, as to the conditions, relied on his honesty. He wishes a battle; very well, let us fight. I wash my hands of it!” [Footnote: Napoleon's own words.--Vide ”Memoires du Due de Rovigo,” vol. ii., p. 196.]