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Paris； and pressing it with a thousand arms； and during these last days
it might well be said that the battle raged incessantly。 On the 26th the
Emperor； led by the noise of a fierce cannonade； again repaired to Saint…
Dizier； where his rear…guard was attacked by very superior forces； and
compelled to evacuate the town； but General Milhaud and General
Sebastiani repulsed the enemy on the Marne at the ford of Valcourt； the
presence of the Emperor produced its accustomed effect； and we re…entered
Saint…Dizier； while the enemy fled in the greatest disorder over the road
to Vitry…le…Francais and that of Bar…sur…Ornain。 The Emperor moved
towards the latter town； thinking that he now had the Prince of
Schwarzenberg in his power； but just as he arrived there learned that it
was not the Austrian general…in…chief whom he had fought； but only one of
his lieutenants； Count Witzingerode。 Schwarzenberg had deceived him； on
the 23d he had made a junction with General Blucher； and these two
generals at the head of the coalition had rushed with their masses of
soldiers upon the capital。
However disastrous might be the news brought to headquarters； the Emperor
wished to verify its truth in person； and on his return from Saint…Dizier
made a detour to Vitry； in order to assure himself of the march of the
allies on Paris； and all his doubts were dissipated by what he saw。
Could Paris hold out long enough for him to crush the enemy against its
walls？ Thereafter this was his sole and engrossing thought。 He
immediately placed himself at the head of his army； and we marched on
Paris by the road to Troyes。 At Doulencourt he received a courier from
King Joseph； who announced to him the march of the allies on Paris。 That
very moment he sent General Dejean in haste to his brother to inform him
of his speedy arrival。 If he could defend himself for two days； only two
days； the allied armies would enter Paris； only to find there a tomb。
In what a state of anxiety the Emperor then was！ He set out with his
headquarters squadrons。 I accompanied him； and left him for the first
time at Troyes； on the morning of the 30th； as will be seen in the
following chapter。
CHAPTER XXVI。
What a time was this！ How sad the period and events of which I have now
to recall the sad memory ！ I have now arrived at the fatal day when the
combined armies of Europe were to sully the soil of Paris； of that
capital； free for so many years from the presence of the invader。 What a
blow to the Emperor！ And what cruel expiation his great soul now made
for his triumphant entries into Vienna and Berlin！ It was； then； all in
vain that he had displayed such incredible activity during the admirable
campaign of France； in which his genius had displayed itself as
brilliantly as during his Italian campaign。 The first time I saw him on
the day after a battle was at Marengo； and what a contrast his attitude
of dejection presented when I saw him again on the 31st of March at
Fontainebleau。
Having accompanied His Majesty everywhere； I was near him at Troyes on
the morning of the 30th of March。
The Emperor set out at ten o'clock； accompanied only by the grand marshal
and the Duke of Vicenza。 It was then known at headquarters that the
allied troops were advancing on Paris； but we were far from suspecting
that at the very moment of the Emperor's hurried departure the battle
before Paris was being most bitterly waged。 At least I had heard nothing
to lead me to believe it。 I received an order to move to Essonne； and；
as means of transportation had become scarce and hard to obtain； did not
arrive there until the morning of the 31st； and had been there only a
short time when the courier brought me an order to repair to
Fontainebleau； which I immediately did。 It was then I learned that the
Emperor had gone from Troyes to Montereau in two hours； having made the
journey of ten leagues in that short space of time。 I also learned that
the Emperor and his small suite had been obliged to make use of a chaise
on the road to Paris； between Essonne and Villejuif。 He advanced as far
as the Cour de France with the intention of marching on Paris； but there；
verifying the news and the cruel certainty of the surrender of Paris； had
sent to me the courier whom I mentioned above。
I had been at Fontainebleau only a short while when the Emperor arrived。
His countenance was pale and harassed to a greater degree than I had ever
seen it； and he who knew so well how to control all the emotions of his
soul did not seem to attempt to conceal the dejection which was so
manifest both in his attitude and in his countenance。 It was evident how
greatly he was suffering from all the disastrous events which had
accumulated one after the other in terrible progression。 The Emperor
said nothing to any one； and closeted himself immediately in his cabinet；
with the Dukes of Bassano and Vicenza and the Prince of Neuchatel。 These
generals remained a long while with the Emperor； who afterwards received
some general officers。 His Majesty retired very late； and appeared to me
entirely crushed。 From time to time I heard stifled sighs escape from
his breast； with which were mingled the name of Marmont； which I could
not then understand； as I had heard nothing of the terms of the
surrender； and knew that the Duke of Ragusa was a marshal to whom the
Emperor seemed always deeply attached。 I saw that evening； at
Fontainebleau； Marshal Moncey； who the evening before had bravely
commanded the national guard at the barricade of Clichy； and also the
Duke of Dantzic。
A gloomy and silent sadness which is perfectly indescribable reigned at
Fontainebleau during the two days which followed。 Overcome by so many
repeated blows； the Emperor seldom entered his cabinet； where he usually
passed so many hours engaged in work。 He was so absorbed in his
conflicting thoughts； that often he did not notice the arrival of persons
whom he had summoned； looked at them； so to speak； without seeing them；
and sometimes remained nearly half an hour without addressing them； then；
as if awaking from this state of stupefaction； asked them questions
without seeming to hear the reply； and even the presence of the Duke of
Bassano and the Duke of Vicenza； whom he summoned more frequently； did
not interrupt this condition of preoccupation or lethargy； so to speak。
The hours for meals were the same； and they were served as usual； but all
took place amid complete silence； broken only by the necessary noise of
the service。 At the Emperor's toilet the same silence； not a word issued
from his lips； and if in the morning I suggested to him one of the drinks
that he usually took； he not only did not reply； but nothing in his
countenance which I attentively observed could make me believe that he
had heard me。 This situation was terrible for all the persons attached
to his Majesty。
Was the Emperor really so overwhelmed by his evil fortune？ Was his
genius as benumbed as his body？ I must admit； in all candor； that seeing
him so different from what he appeared after the disasters of Moscow； and
even when I had left him at Troyes a few days before； I