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excuse for the intimacy of his only daughter with the family of L。 B；
which astonished me greatly。 One day； when I was dining at the house of
the colonel； with his wife； his step…daughter； and Mademoiselle L；
the general sent for his aides…de…camp； and I was left alone； with the
ladies； who so earnestly begged me to accompany them on a visit to
Mademoiselle le Normand； that it would have been impolite to refuse；
consequently we ordered a carriage and went to the Rue de Tournon。
Mademoiselle L。 B was first to enter the Sybil's cave； where she
remained a long while； but on her return was very reserved as to any
communications made to her； though Mademoiselle L told us very
frankly that she had good news； and would soon marry the man she loved；
which event soon occurred。 These ladies having urged me to consult the
prophetess in my turn； I perceived plainly that I was recognized； for
Mademoiselle le Normand at once discovered in my hand that I had the
happiness of being near a great man and being highly esteemed by him；
adding much other nonsense of the same kind； which was so tiresome that I
thanked her； and made my adieux as quickly as possible。
CHAPTER XXXI。
While the Emperor was giving crowns to his brothers and sisters；to
Prince Louis； the throne of Holland； Naples to Prince Joseph； the Duchy
of Berg to Prince Murat； to the Princess Eliza； Lucca and Massa…Carrara；
and Guastalla to the Princess Pauline Borghese； and while； by means of
treaties and family alliances； he was assuring still more the co…
operation of the different states which had entered into the
Confederation of the Rhine；war was renewed between France and Prussia。
It is not my province to investigate the causes of this war； nor to
decide which first gave cause of offense。
All I can certify is this； frequently at the Tuileries； and on the
campaign； I heard the Emperor； in conversation with his intimate friends；
accuse the old Duke of Brunswick； whose name had been so odious in France
since 1792； and also the young and beautiful Queen of Prussia； of having
influenced King Frederic William to break the treaty of peace。 The Queen
was； according to the Emperor； more disposed to war than General Blucher
himself。 She wore the uniform of the regiment to which she had given her
name； appeared at all reviews； and commanded the maneuvers。
We left Paris at the end of September。 I will not enter into the details
of this wonderful campaign； in which the Emperor in an incredibly short
time crushed to pieces an army of one hundred and fifty thousand men；
perfectly disciplined； full of enthusiasm and courage； and fighting in
defense of their country。 In one of the first battles； the young Prince
Louis of Prussia； brother of the king； was killed at the head of his
troops by Guinde； quartermaster of the Tenth Hussars。 The prince fought
hand to hand with this brave sub…officer； who said to him； 〃Surrender；
Colonel； or you are a dead man；〃 to which Prince Louis replied only by a
saber stroke； whereupon Guinde plunged his own into the body of his
opponent； and he fell dead on the spot。
On this campaign； as the roads had become very rough from the continual
passage of artillery； my carriage was one day upset； and one of the
Emperor's hats fell out of the door； but a regiment which happened to
pass along the same road having recognized the hat from its peculiar
shape； my carriage was immediately set up again； 〃For；〃 said these brave
soldiers； 〃we cannot leave the first valet of the little corporal in
trouble；〃 and the hat； after passing through many hands； was at last
restored to me before my departure。
On the Emperor's arrival at the plateau of Weimar； he arranged his army
in line of battle； and bivouacked in the midst of his guard。 About two
o'clock in the morning he arose and went on foot to examine the work on a
road that was being cut in the rock for the transportation of artillery；
and after remaining nearly an hour with the workmen； decided to take a
look at the nearest advance posts before returning to his bivouac。
This round； which the Emperor insisted on making alone and with no
escort； came near costing him his life。 The night was so dark that the
sentinels of the camp could not see ten steps in front of them； and the
first； hearing some one in the darkness approaching our line； called out
〃Qui vive？〃 and prepared to fire。 The Emperor being lost in thought； as
he himself told me afterwards； did not notice the sentinel's challenge；
and made no reply until a ball； whistling by his ears； woke him from his
reverie； when immediately perceiving his danger； he threw himself face
downwards on the ground； which was a very wise precaution； for hardly had
his Majesty placed himself in this position； than other balls passed over
his head； the discharge of the first sentinel having been repeated by the
whole line。 This first fire over； the Emperor rose； walked towards the
nearest post； and made himself known。
His Majesty was still there when the soldier who had fired on him joined
them； being just relieved at his post； he was a young grenadier of the
line。 The Emperor ordered him to approach； and； pinching his cheeks
hard； exclaimed； 〃What； you scamp； you took me for a Prussian！ This
rascal does not throw away his powder on sparrows； he shoots only at
emperors。〃 The poor soldier was completely overcome with the idea that
he might have killed the little corporal； whom he adored as much as did
the rest of the army； and it was with great difficulty he could say；
〃Pardon； Sire； but I was obeying orders； and if you did not answer； it
was not my fault。 I was compelled to have the countersign； and you would
not give it。〃 The Emperor reassured him with a smile； and said； as he
left the post； 〃My brave boy； I do not reproach you。 That was pretty
well aimed for a shot fired in the dark； but after awhile it will be
daylight； take better aim； and I will remember you。〃
The results of the Battle of Jena； fought on the 14th of October （1806）；
are well known。 Almost all the Prussian generals； at least the bravest
among them； were there taken prisoners； or rendered unable to continue
the campaign。
The king and queen took flight； and did not halt till they had reached
Koenigsberg。
A few moments before the attack； the Queen of Prussia； mounted on a
noble； graceful steed； had appeared in the midst of the soldiers； and；
followed by the elite of the youth of Berlin； this royal Amazon had
galloped down the front rank of the line of battle。 The numerous banners
which her own hands had embroidered to encourage her troops； with those
of the great Frederick； blackened by the smoke of many battles； were
lowered at her approach； amid shouts of enthusiasm which rang through the
entire ranks of the Prussian army。 The atmosphere was so clear； and the
two armies so near each other； that the French could easily distinguish
the costume of the queen。
This striking costume was； in fact； one great cause of the danger she
encountered in her flight。 Her head was covered with a helmet of
polished steel； above which waved a magnificent plume； her cuirass
glittered with gold and