"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, a.s.sume to speak in the presence of the Emperor, to say nothing of these great captains?"
"May my life be forfeit, _Monsieur le Duc_," said the young soldier more boldly, since Napoleon had condoned his first remark, "if I have done wrong in a.s.suring 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 corps, 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 penetrating 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 majesty was pleased to say----"
"I recall it all now. I saw you plunge into the river and bring back to sh.o.r.e 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 accomplished.
Blucher, it is true, marches on Paris. He counts on the army of Schwarzenberg to contain us. He marches leisurely, with wide intervals 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 devoted subordinate.
"I am worn out," said the Emperor, smiling more kindly upon them. "I have scarcely been out of the saddle--I have scarcely had an hour of sleep since the b.l.o.o.d.y day of La Rothiere. 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 drooped, as he spoke, much of the animation went out of his face and figure. He looked grayer than ever, heavier than ever, older than ever.
"In two hours awaken 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 saluted 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 convoy 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, standing staring, "you hear?" He stretched out his hand in appealing gesture.
The Emperor turned on his heel, without deigning 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 worthies turned away and went out. The long room sank into silence. A soldier came in after a while and replenished the fire, saluted and pa.s.sed 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 twilight and then into darkness. From outside beyond the courtyard of the inn came confused noises, indicating moving bodies of men, the rumble of artillery, the clatter of cavalry, 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.
CHAPTER II
THE EMPEROR DREAMS