Part 74 (1/2)
A few hours afterward, all was quiet on the Montmartre, and on all the other heights around Paris. After the battle the armies needed sleep, and it was undisturbed, for there was no longer an enemy to dispute their possession of the French capital.
CHAPTER LII.
NIGHT AND MORNING NEAR PARIS.
So the allied armies encamped and rested round the bivouac-fires, while, at a house in the suburbs of La Chapelle, the plenipotentiaries of the sovereigns were still negotiating with the French marshals the terms on which the city was to be surrendered.
But he who now rode along the road to Paris at a gallop in an open carriage knew no peace or rest. His quivering features were expressive of alarm; ruin sat enthroned on his forehead, covered with perspiration. By his side sat Caulaincourt; behind him, Berthier and Flahault. The carriage thundered along at the utmost speed. ”Caulaincourt, I shall arrive at Paris in time,” murmured the emperor; ”we are already at Fromenteau; in an hour we shall be there. The watch-fires of the enemy are seen on the opposite bank of the Seine. Ah, I shall extinguish them; to-morrow night the enemy will not be so near.--But what is that? Do you hear nothing? Have the carriage stopped!”
Berthier shouted to the driver--the carriage stopped. They all heard a sort of hollow noise.
”It is a squad of cavalry riding along this road,” whispered Caulaincourt.
”It is artillery,” murmured Napoleon. ”Forward! They can only be our own men. But why are they retreating from Paris? Forward!”
The carriage rolled on. And from the other side of the road a dark ma.s.s, with a rumbling noise, moved toward them. Napoleon was not mistaken, nor was Caulaincourt mistaken.
”Who is there?” shouted the emperor to the hors.e.m.e.n at the head of the column. ”Halt!”
”It is the emperor!” cried a voice, in amazement, and a horseman dismounting in a moment approached the carriage.
”It is General Belliard,” exclaimed the emperor, and alighted hastily from his carriage. ”General, whither are you moving? What about Paris?”
”Sire, all is lost!” said Belliard, after a mournful pause.
”How so?” cried Napoleon, vehemently. ”You see I am coming! I shall be in Paris in an hour. I will call out the National Guard, and put myself at the head of the troops.”
”Sire, we are too weak; the enemy is five times stronger.”
”But I am there, and my name will increase the strength of my army fivefold.”
”Sire, it is too late.”
”Too late! What do you mean?”
”Marmont and Mortier have capitulated; we are taking advantage of the night to evacuate Paris, while the marshals are still negotiating the terms of capitulation.”
A single cry of anger burst from Napoleon's lips; then, as if crushed by the blow, his head dropped on his breast. Recovering himself in a moment, he said, imperiously: ”General Belliard! return with your troops; I shall be there before you reach the city.
Resuming hostilities, I will call upon all Paris to take up arms; the people love me, they will remain faithful; the majority of the working-men are composed of old soldiers. They know how to fight, and I will lead them. We shall fight as the Spaniards fought against us at Saragossa, defending with our blood the streets of our capital; detaining the enemy at least for a day, my army will arrive, and we shall be strong enough to give battle. I must go to Paris; when I am not there, they do nothing but blunder! My brother Joseph is a pusillanimous and easily-disheartened man, and Minister Clarke is a blockhead. Marmont and Mortier are traitors deserving death, for they violated my express instructions. I asked them to hold out only two days, and the traitors capitulated before they had elapsed! Oh, I shall hold them responsible for it: I know how to punish traitors and poltroons!” He hurried on in a rapid step, General Belliard walking by his side, and Caulaincourt, Berthier, and Flahault following him. ”I must go to Paris,” cried the emperor, after a momentary pause. ”Order my carriage!”
”Sire,” said Belliard, solemnly, ”it is no longer possible for your majesty to reach Paris. You would run the risk of falling into the hands of the vanguard of the allies. If your majesty were at Paris, it would be of no avail. The enemy is in possession of all the heights, and they can bombard the city without being interfered with by the exhausted troops of Mortier and Marmont. Sire, all is lost; there is no prospect which would justify us to hope for a favorable change.”
”To Paris!” cried the emperor. ”You say I can no longer enter the city. Well, then, I shall put myself at the head of the troops of Marshals Mortier and Marmont, and, while the allies are making their entrance into the city, resume the struggle.”
”Sire,” said Belliard, mournfully, ”it is too late, the marshals have agreed to surrender Paris; it was only on this condition that our troops were allowed to move out. The capitulation cannot be broken.”
”What do I care for the capitulation of traitorous marshals?” said the emperor, stamping; ”my will alone reigns here, and my will is, that the troops face about and follow me.--Say, Hulin,” said the emperor, turning toward the commander of Paris, who had just approached him, ”are you not of my opinion? The troops should return to Paris?”